Potiskum (Yobe)- The Police in Yobe on Sunday confirmed the killing of six
persons in a suicide bomb attack on a church in Potiskum.
Mr Toyin Gbadegesin, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the
state command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu that the
death included the suicide bomber.
The spokesman said: “A male suicide bomber detonated a bomb at Redeem
Church at Jigawa area of Potiskum, killing five on the spot.
“A female member of the church who sustained injuries also died while
receiving treatment in the hospital.’’
He said the injured are receiving treatment at various health facilities
in the area.
According to AFP the bomber entered the uncompleted Redeemed Christian
Church of God at 9:55 am in the Jigawa area on the outskirts of the city
in Yobe state and detonated his explosives, killing the worshippers,
including a woman and her two children as well as the pastor, they said.
“Four worshippers died instantly while the fifth victim gave up shortly
after she was taken to hospital,” a police officer involved in the
evacuation told AFP.
“The victims included a woman and her two children, the pastor and another
worshipper,” added the officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Witness Garba Manu told AFP the bomber arrived at the church on a
motorised rickshaw disguised as a worshipper and detonated his explosives
as soon as he entered the church.
“I saw when the bomber alighting from a motorised rickshaw and entering
the church and as soon as he entered a loud explosion ripped through the
church which is under construction,” he said.
“I saw him walked into the church and he didn’t raise any suspicion. Five
worshippers, including three females and two males were in the church when
the bomber entered and they were all killed,” he added.
“The dismembered body of the bomber was also recovered,” said Manu, who
lives in the area.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Potiskum, the
commercial capital of Yobe state, has been hit repeatedly by Boko Haram
Islamists in their six-year insurgency, including by suicide bombers.
The insurgents have also launched a series of attacks on mosques, villages
and markets in neighbouring Borno state in the past few days, claiming
more than 200 lives.
Boko Haram are keen to prove they are not a spent force despite a
four-nation military offensive that has run them out of captured towns and
villages since February this year.
The use of improvised explosive devices and suicide bombings has increased
since May 29 when President Muhammadu Buhari took office vowing to crush
the rebellion.
According to an AFP tally, at least 654 people have lost their lives since
that date.