4 killed in Jos bomb explosion

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Written by Isaac Shobayo and Chris Agbambu Monday, 21 March 2011

WHAT could have been twin bombings was averted in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Sunday, as an attempt to bomb the headquarters of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry and other places was averted while nemesis caught up with two of the bombers.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that at about 9.45 a.m, two middle-aged persons in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State were shattered into pieces while on their way to plant explosive devices at a location.

It was learnt that the explosives suddenly went off at Duala junction in Nasarawa area of Jos and killed the two instantly.

The bang from the explosion, it was learnt caused pandemonium in the area, as people took to their heels while churches, especially Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) and Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) within the vicinity, hurriedly rounded off their services before it degenerated into crisis.

Nigerian Tribune further learnt that at the time of the explosion, the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Istifanus Mwansat was at the COCIN church in the area, while the state Commissioner for Commerce, Mr Nuhu Gagara, was equally at the ECWA church, perceived to be target of the bombers.

The youth in the area, who thronged the scene, burnt the bombers beyond recognition and also damaged the motorcycle, making it difficult for their identity to be known, while the corpses of two other people were found within the scene of the incident.

There was also another attempt on the state headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry close to the old UTC, but this was stopped by the men of the Special Task Force deployed to protect the church.

Nigerian Tribune gathered from the security men at the church that four people alighted from two motorcycles and parked close to one of the cars of worshippers and were about throwing the explosive when one of the security men saw them.

It was learnt that they dropped the explosive and sped off on their bikes, while the security men made efforts to difuse the explosive before it went off.

The two incidents caused tension within the state capital and there was a speculation that the men that were kiled in the blast meant to throw the explosives into one of the churches in the area.

The prompt intervention of the Military Special Task Force and the police saved the situation from degenerating into violence, as youths in some parts of the city, especially in Nasarawa, Angwan Rukuba and others, had started mobilising for a showdown over the incident.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdulrahaman Akao, who confirmed the incident to the Nigerian Tribune, said it would be difficult to determine the destination of the two killed in the blast, because they were yet to discharge the explosives before they went off.

He said apart from the two killed by the explosion, two corpses were found close to the scene, adding that the police were yet to ascertain if they were killed by the explosion.

However, the Force Headquarters has said no bomb exploded in the church in Jos, on sunday.

Force spokesman, Sola Amore, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune by phone, said what actually happened was that two young men, riding on a motorbike, were suspected to be carrying explosives on the Nasaraw Gwom road in Jos.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/19153-4-killed-in-jos-bomb-explosion