Suicide bomber dies alone outside Nigeria church

Suicide bomber dies alone outside Nigeria church

Thursday, January 1, 2015 12:52 pm


May be God is finally listening to the cries of Nigerians for His intervention as a suicide bomber blew himself up outside an evangelist church in Tudun Wada, Gombe, northeast Nigeria on Thursday, killing only himself.

Several people were however mildly injured, witnesses and a rescue worker said.

file photo: A man walks past blood stains and rubble after twin suicide blasts at Kantin Kwari textile market in Kano

file photo: A man walks past blood stains and rubble after twin suicide blasts at Kantin Kwari textile market in Kano

“There was an explosion outside the ECWA church this morning. A suicide bomber who was restrained from getting into the church blew himself up,” said Abubakar Yakubu, who heads the Nigeria Red Cross in Gombe.

“Luckily no one was killed but some people were mildly injured.”

A witness said the man arrived during the church service and refused to park his motorcycle outside a security barrier set up by church volunteers.

“He insisted on riding through the barrier,” said Dahiru Badamasi.

“It was while he was arguing with the volunteers that his suicide belt exploded.”

Another witness heard an explosion and rushed outside.

“I saw a man leading three children with their new dresses stained with blood,” said Jummai Maifada.

Northeast Nigeria has seen a relentless string of attacks blamed on Boko Haram militants, increasingly using female suicide bombers.

Gombe State police chief Fawaje Atajiri confirmed the attack.

“He came with a motorcycle and tried to enter the place but as a result of the security measures put in place, he was blocked and the bomb exploded instantly and he was killed,” the police chief said

Gombe, capital of the eponymous state, has until recently been spared the violence that has shaken the neighbouring states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa, where Boko Haram has taken around 20 towns.

But attacks have increased in recent weeks.

A female suicide bomber was killed as she tried to enter a military barracks in Gombe on Wednesday.

Seven others died in a bus explosion Wednesday in a village close to Potiskum, in Yobe state.

Experts have cast doubt on Nigeria’s ability to hold planned national elections in February due to rising unrest in parts of the northeast.


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