Fresh fighting in Kaduna

Exactly a week after the tripple suicide bombings that rocked churches in Zaria and Kaduna metropolis, six persons were yesterday killed at about 9a.m  in Gonin Gora, on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis but the identities of those killed were yet to be ascertained at press time.

Daily Sun gathered that about 10 motorcyclists were sighted by the residents riding through a path along the Federal Housing Estate in Gonin Gora. Although the residents alleged that the motorbike riders were carrying some explosives and had come to attack the ECWA Church in the area, a security source in the state told Daily Sun that no one could explain what transpired, adding that all he knew was that there were attacks and people were killed.

However, a police source who was part of the team that rescued one of those attacked, said contrary to what some of the residents said, the rescued man, who was now with the police, disclosed that they came in from Abuja and were on their way to Achau, off Zaria Road.  When contacted on phone, the state police spokesman, DSP Aminu Lawan, said he had not been briefed on the incident.

Eyewitnesses, however, told Daily Sun that when the riders were accosted by the residents who had been at alert in the wake of the riots, they were said to have lacked genuine explanation as to their mission in the area at the time Sunday services were going on. It was further gathered that before the securitymen could arrive the scene, the situation had degenerated into another riot leading to the death of six persons. The state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Abubakar Jinjiri and his men were said to have arrived the area on good time to prevent the spread of the attack, just as the army was said to have immediately positioned an armoured tank in the area.

This was even as most Christian worshippers earlier yesterday refused to go to their churches for fear of being attacked by suicide bombers. Their fears were  heightened following SMS messages bearing security alert allegedly circulated in the state and beyond on Saturday night, warning Christians not to go to churches in some areas of the metropolis.

Areas like the Lagos Roundabout, Ahmadu Bello Stadium Roundabout along Junction Road where about three churches are located were cordoned off by security operatives in conjunction with the vigilance of the churches’ securitymen. The usual Sunday rush to churches in places like Narayi and Barnawa by worshippers was not witnessed yesterday as they went and returned in fewer groups.

Youths in major suburbs mounted roadblocks along streets leading to churches to avoid being taken unawares by attackers, just as one family which refused to go to church said, “if we don’t go to church today, it does not mean we will not go to heaven when the time comes. We want to believe that prevention is better than cure. These bombers are ready to die, we are not ready to die like chicken, my brother.”