Nigerian Forces Avert High Casualty in Church Attack

Eldonita de Ivan Martínez
2015-07-13 14:05:41

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Abuji, July 13 (RHC)-- Nigerian security forces have detected two explosives in an attempted terrorist attack on a church in the central city of Jos, sources say.

Emmanuel Abuh, the spokesman for the state police in Plateau, of which Jos is the capital, said on Sunday that one of the two devices went off following the detection at crowded Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) premises in the Tudun Wada area of the city but it left no casualties.

According to the spokesman of the Special Task Force, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, two bombs were hidden in the church compound, one of which was found in a toilet and defused by a bomb squad while the other, planted at the building's entrance, was discovered by a security guard who picked it up and flung it far away from premises before it exploded.

Abuh also stated since the danger was "averted" by the church's security personnel, there were no casualties; however witnesses said a guard sustained injuries in the leg.

"Experts have been sent there immediately to ascertain those who planted the explosion, and possibly, the manufacturers of the device. But I was told no one died in the incident," he said.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Red Cross spokesman Nwakpa Okorie Nwakpa confirmed that the device went off after it was detected and that there were no casualties.

A bomb attack targeted another church a week ago in the northeastern city of Potiskum, killing the pastor and four worshippers. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack. However, senior Nigerian civilians and military officials often blame such attacks on Boko Haram Takfiri terrorists.

Twin attacks also targeted a mosque and a restaurant in Jos recently, killing at least 47 people and injuring 51 others. The blasts blamed on Boko Haram hit the crowded Yantaya Mosque and Shagalinku restaurant in Jos on last Sunday night.

Boko Haram has repeatedly hit churches, mosques, and public places in Nigeria and its neighboring countries. The group has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria, which have left thousands dead and millions displaced over the past six years.

The militant group says its goal is to overthrow the government of Africa's most populous country. Boko Haram has recently pledged allegiance to the brutal ISIL Takfiri group, which is primarily operating inside Iraq and Syria and more recently in Libya.



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