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While the nation continues to mourn the crash of Dana airline’s aircraft in Lagos and the terrorist attacks on two churches in Bauchi State, it was another bloody Sunday yesterday as terroristsagain attackeda church in Jos, Plateau State and another in Biu, Borno State.
The latest attack in Jos, the Plateau State capitalwas the third on worshippers since January.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks that left about 14 people dead and several others injured in the two cities.
Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman Lt. Victor Ebhalemeconfirmed to a foreign media organization in Maiduguri that two people died and an unspecified number injured during the attack in Biu, 180 kilometre from Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital but the Borno State Police Commissioner Bala Hassan said only one person died and three others injured.
Hassan said the police had made appreciable progress in the investigation of the attack onEkkiliziaYanuwa A Nigeria (EYN) Church on Gombe -Biu road. He stated further that his command had stepped-up security in vulnerable areas and would continue to do its best to ensure safety of lives and property.
“The attack on the church on Gombe-Biu Road happened around 9 a.m when four young men fired at a church during which one person died and three others were injured.
“The attackers fled shortly after, but the police recovered a pistol, one of the weapons used during the attack,’’ Hassan said.
On Friday, a suicide bomber rammed his car into the barricaded portion of the command’s headquarters in Maiduguri killing himself along with five persons and injured 12.
Over 50 worshippers have been killed in the three attacks on churches so far.
According to a source, the terrorist had targeted the ECWA Church located about 50 meters away from CCCG, but were deterred by a security check point and afterwards diverted the timed explosives to the CCCG Church which came down on about 200 worshippers.
An eyewitness, Mr. Richard Jonah, said the bomber went through the church gate after deceiving the security men on duty that he was a member going in for the service.
“But, immediately he entered into the premises, he drove straight into the church building and hit the structure with the bomb-laden vehicle while the second service was still going on,’’ Jonah said.
An official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), TajudeenOlanrewaju who couldn’t give any casualty figure said “as you can see, we are still evacuating those injured to hospitals. For now, we cannot give you any clear figure,’’

An aircraft belonging to the Nigeria Police Force has crashed in Jos, Plateau State killing Police boss John Haruna , the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA)has confirmed.

 The Police helicopter belonging to the Special Task Force in charge of security in the troubled Plateau State was on surveillance before it went down.

 At about 1pm, Wednesday, few Nigerians had circulated the unconfirmed report as a normal facebook rumour before it was eventually confirmed by NEMA.

 A source had revealed that the aircraft crashed on a residential building around Rukuba road close to the satellite market in the tin city.

 As at press time, information about the crash is still scanty but it is apparent that the pilot and four officers on board were feared dead. According to the Spokesman of the Police Command, Samuel Dabai, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of “B” Department, John Haruna was on board.

 The crash is coming on a day the new Police camouflage uniform was revealed to the public.

 Jos, Plateau State capital is a State capital in urgent need of the surveillance effort of the Police after a suicide attack on St. Finbar’s Catholic Church last Sunday that claimed about 11 persons.

Barely 24 hours after notable leaders from northern Nigeria including former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) met to deliberate on terrorism in the region, a lone terrorist has attacked St. Finbar’s Catholic Church, Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Terrorists in recent times have concentrated attacks on Sunday. Headquarter of Church of Christ in God (COCIN), Jos and a Christ Embassy Church, Suleja, Niger State have been attacked during Sunday services in recent weeks.

The latest attack on St. Finbar’s Church, Rayfield, Jos few weeks before Easter has raised concerns within the tin city. A local media source reported that many people including the bomber were feared dead at St. Finbar’s.

Rayfield is an area reserved for the Government, hosting the Government House, residents of serving and retired government officials. Some government establishments are also located in the area.

Eye witness reports confirmed the attack as a suicide bombing by a lone bomber who hit during service. However, casualty figure has not been officially released as at press time. Director of Press to the State Governor Jonah Jang, Mannock James also confirmed the incident saying ”we do not know the casualty figures yet”.

Barely 24 hours after 14 people of same family were murdered by suspected Fulani herdsmen near Jos, Plateau State capital, two seperate explosions have again rocked the tin city.

The casualty figure from the incident that happened at a drinking joint near West of Mines Junction at about 8.30pm is yet to be released.

The explosions occured five minutes intervals while people ran for dare lives in fear of another possible explosion. There were commotions as vehicles ran into themselves causing a hold up.

Policemen and men of the Anti-Bomb unit have rushed-in to cordon off the area. No group has claimed responsibility of the bombings.

The serenity of Jos was distributed again by another set of clashes between Christian and Muslim youth in various part of the city this morning few hours to the end of the Holy month of Ramadam.  The Violence has left many people dead and some shops burnt. News monitored on The Nation newspaper shows that at least 15 people have been killed in the bloody clash. While four people were shot by the soldiers and more than 50 vehicles and 100 motorcycles were also burnt according to 234Next.

The clash started at Gada Biu,  a Christian dominated neighborhood in Jos which was also the scene of violence in December 2010. When multiple bombs were denoted on Christmas eve that killed a lot of people which were mainly Christians. The action of the Christian youth to prevent Muslims from using their praying ground in their neighborhood which lead to the clash was a form of retaliation for the bombing in the neighborhood last Christmas eve.

Fourteen persons were reportedly killed by yet-to-be-identified assailants in a fresh gale of violence that erupted in Jos, Plateau State, at the weekend.

This brings to at least 25 lives that have been lost in the city in the past few days, with the most recent of them being the killing of 11 persons on Sunday night in a simultaneous attack on Heipang and Korut villages of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

This also forced Governor Jonah Jang to cancel a one-week retreat at the Obudu Cattle Ranch planned for members of the State Executive Council.

But Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Lomang, who confirmed the killing of the 11 in Heipang and Korut, has pointed accusing fingers at some members of the armed forces.

He said: “Four military identity cards and a military cap were found at the scene of the attack,” adding that the natives were alleging that the soldiers were responsible.

Lomang also said: “The attackers began to shoot at about 12:30am to scare the villagers, and later attacked a house at Heipang, where the assailants macheted and killed seven members of the family of one Mr. Nnaji.” …Thisday