About 25 people were reported killed in the explosions, though the police, at press time, put the figure at 16.
Already, the Kaduna State government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state to stop reprisals in Kaduna South, where some Muslims were killed by armed Christian youths. A photojournalist with Daily Independent newspaper, Mr Nathaniel Jibrin was beaten up by the Christian youth who thought he was a Muslim. Jibrin was later rushed to hospital.
An eyewitness said the three suicide bombers drove to the gate of Christ The King Catholic Church on Yoruba Street in Sabo Gari area of Zaria at about 8.45 a.m., but they were stopped by a security man attached to the church.
"Sensing that their mission had been discovered by the security man, two of the bombers who attempted to escape were intercepted and set ablaze by the people around while the third bomber detonated the bomb, killing himself and the security man instantly,” one of the eyewitnesses recalled.
"But as the Sabon Gari area bomb blast was taking place, another one exploded at ECWA Church in Wusasa area of Zaria. The number of the dead could not be ascertained, but many were killed and scores injured.”
The attacks were coordinated within minutes as another explosion rocked the Shalom Church in Trikania area of Kaduna.
The development angered Christian youths in Gonin Gora village on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway who barricaded the roads and killed innocent people mostly Muslims that were travelling to Abuja.
"The reprisals left many dead with several commercial motorcycles set ablaze in areas like High Cost, Ungwan Pama, Narayi, Ungwan Muazu, among other areas of the metropolis,"the eyewitness said.
At Trikania, Sabo Tasha, Narayi, Gonin Gora and other Christian-dominated suburbs, combat ready soldiers were patrolling while thick, dark smoke billowed into the sky. Many vehicles were set ablaze causing pandemonium and a heavy traffic snarl in the metropolis, as soldiers intensified stop and search of motorists.
Gunshots sporadically rent the air in some areas, many residents resorted to staying indoors, having returned from church services and business premises closed in a hurry.
"The bomb blast at the Shalom Church claimed some lives, including one of the soldiers on guard at the church, just as the photojournalist with the Daily Independent newspaper, Mr Jibrin was matcheted several times on the head by hoodlums who were said to have attacked and asked him what religion he professed while on his way to the scene of the blast.
Jibrin was rushed to the hospital by good Samaritans who found him lying unconscious on the ground."
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far. However, the PPRO in Kaduna State, DSP Aminu Lawan, said investigation had since commenced into the sad incident.
Meanwhile, the acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered a massive deployment of both conventional and riot police units to every nook and cranny of Kaduna State, including the highways.
This is just as the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of ‘A’ Department, DIG Suleiman D. Fakai, who is also the DIG coordinating police operations in the North-West, is already in Kaduna where he is personally coordinating police operations.
A statement in Abuja on Sunday night by the Deputy Force spokesman, CSP Frank Mba said that a total of 16 persons have so far been confirmed dead as a result of the explosions within the three churches.
According to him, a breakdown of this figure showed that nine persons, including the suspected suicide bomber died at Christ the King Catholic Church; three persons at ECWA Church and four persons at Shalom Church.
Expressing concern over the spate of attacks on churches in some parts of the country, the acting Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar has assured that the police were working in collaboration with other security agencies and will do everything humanly and operationally possible to bring the attacks to an end.
He appealed to residents in and around the affected areas to remain calm while efforts were being made by the government and security agencies to find a permanent solution. He noted that two wrongs can never make a right. He also appealed to citizens and opinion leaders to desist from making inciting or inflammatory statements capable of further aggravating the situation.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan received the news of Sunday’s bomb blasts that targeted some churches in Kaduna while worshipping in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, in a special service to celebrate Fathers’ Day.
He, thereafter, confessed that while he was too sad by the incident to comment on it, he yielded to pressure from clergy men present at the service to say a few words on the matter.
"I was particularly thrilled by what was going on in the church when I got the information that while we were here, there were explosions in Kaduna and since I don't even know the casualty rate and what is happening I have been quite sad and I didn't even want to say something. But when your priest orders you, you must say something," he said.
The president expressed sadness over the incidents and regretted that rather than use their talents to positively impact on society, some people were applying them to hurt same society.
President Jonathan, who along with most of the officials had been specially attired in white dress for the service, said that his prayer had always been for God to stand by him and the country.
Drawing inspiration from some of the songs rendered during the service, he stated that if people realised the ephemeral nature of what they possessed in life, they would use it to change the society, adding, "whatever you have, you should use to change society".
Noting the enormity of the problems facing the country and the tendency for people to misunderstand him, President Jonathan vowed to do his best to solve the problems.
The memory verse for the service was taken from James 1;2-4 and the response, "God our security" from Psalm 91, while the first lesson was read by the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, from Psalm 29:1-11.
The second reading which was taken from Ephesians 3:13-24 was read by the governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Seriake Dickson.
Former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, who delivered the sermon, "Sovereign fatherhood of God," blessed the president who he said would bring rare changes to Nigeria with his humility and service, and, therefore, encouraged him not be afraid of the troubles in the nation which he said would soon end.
While he stressed the need for solid family unit as a foundation for a solid nation which has the fear of God in the children raised with integrity, the former minister blamed the problem of the country on irresponsible fathers who lacked good leadership.
Gana observed that the prime role of the father in the family was to provide security and assurance and prayed that overwhelming situations such as the one that befell Job should not shake the confidence in God's ability.
Gana described God as a covenant keeper whose promises must come to pass even where there were delays and, therefore, advised reliance in God so that "we can ask him for anything and he will do it."
Reading from Isaiah 54, he assured that there shall be no fear or humiliation for those that trust in God in spite of the terror in the land, adding that he never knew that a Nigerian child could become a suicide bomber.
While also assuring that God would visit the country and stop the carnage and reproach, he called on the fathers to stand up against evil and condemn it, adding, "as fathers we need to rise and condemn evil" as God would not tolerate all those who engender insecurity.
Among those in the service were Chaplain of the Aso Rock Villa, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba; Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa State; Minister of Police Affairs, Mr Caleb Olubolade; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Health, Dr Onyebuchi Chukwu, senators Helen Esuene and Emmanuel Paulka.
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