Four killed in Shalom Church,,,

A suicide bomber yesterday attacked Shalom Church International in Trikaniya, Chikun Local government Area of Kaduna state, killing four people and injuring many others.

A witness who is a member of the church said the victims included a soldier who stopped the bomber from entering the church.

According to the witness, the bomber came in a red jeep and drove towards the church trying to force his way into the main building.

“One of the security men of the church who was trying to stop the suicide bomber was hit before the bomb exploded. The suicide bomber could not enter the main building but he succeeded in entering the premises,” she said.

She added that shortly after the incident, soldiers came and started shooting to cordon off the area.

“I know that the incident took place at about 10am; about 10minutes after the pastor started preaching,” she added.

Daily Trust however gathered that part of the main building of the church was destroyed, while bomber and his jeep were shattered.

Our correspondent reports that the incident took place when majority of people were still in church and were not able to go back home owing to fear of the unknown.

The attack led to violent protests by youths in Trikaniya, and later spread to Kakuri, Sabon Tasha, Romi and Gonin Gora communities.

When our correspondent visited Maraban Rido, Kakuri, Sabon Tasha, Romi and Gonin Gora in the afternoon, security agents were seen dispersing youths who had mounted roadblocks. A combined team of the police and military succeeded in removing the roadblocks after few minutes.

The protesting youths had however burnt about 10 cars and motor bikes before the arrival of the security personnel. Most of the vehicles burnt belong to passers-by.

Angry youths of Goningora, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis, burnt the town’s mosque. Our correspondent who visited the Goningora mosque gathered that it was not burnt completely but the back side of the mosque was broken and brought down while items in shops near the mosque were brought out and burnt.

Angry youths were said to have burnt mosques, houses, shops and cars, among others belonging to Muslims in Maraban Rido after which soldiers allegedly killed two of the protesters.

As at the time of filing this report, a military van was escorting vehicles plying the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.