Another major bloodshed was averted in Jos, the Plateau State capital, when two attempts to detonate bombs in two separate locations yesterday failed through divine intervention. However, at least four people died over the botched incident.
It was gathered that two men, who were carrying bomb on a motor cycle heading for where to plant it had the device exploded on them around Dualla junction between ECWA and COCIN churches at about 9.45 am when morning services were going on.
An eye witness disclosed that one of the two men died instantly while the other was killed by the youths who saw him at the scene struggling to survive. It was disclosed that another passerby was killed by the angry youths who identified him to be of the same tribe with the men that were killed.
Daily Sun also gathered that another bomb blast was averted at Mountain and Fire Church, off Murtala Muhammad Way, when men of the Special Task Force, who were going round the church during the service discovered a bomb, which was capable of bringing down the whole building and even those around if it had detonated before it was discovered.
Immediately the bomb was discovered the church service was abruptly brought to an end and the area condoned off. Traffic was diverted from Murtala Road towards Constitution Hill Road. The road was not opened until the bomb had been moved to the STF quarters. Meanwhile the Pastor of the ECWA Church at Daulla junction, Rev. Sati Adamu, had in an interview said the youths on the motorcycle could have been targeting the church because of the threats that had been received in the past.
It was learnt that the state commissioner of Commerce and Industries, Mr. Nuhu Gagara, was at the church service at the ECWA church when the incident was averted by divine intervention. Daily Sun learnt that some of the youths in expressing their victory over the two persons attempting to bomb the churches displayed cannibalism when they merrily fed on the roasted flesh of the men; passing a limb from one to the other to have a bite.
As the news of the bombing was spreading across the city, some angry youths, who took the law into their hands, began to attack a passersby. In parts of Nasarawa where Christians are in the majority, Muslims were being attacked while youths in Muslim dominated areas were also attacking the Christians before the situation was brought under control. The exact number of deaths was not known as at the time of filing the report but it was leant that another corpse was discovered in a well.
Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Abdulrahman Akano, who confirmed the incidents, said only two persons died with the explosive and that the two other corpses found were not in relation to the incident. He said four youths had also been arrested in connection with the explosive found near a church. The police boss said investigation was being carried out with a view of ascertaining the motive of the youths.
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate, of the Congress for Progressive Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has suspended his presidential rally scheduled to hold in Jos today.The state police commissioner, who confirmed the suspension, said the rally had to be shelved because of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign to hold in the tin city on the same date. He said because of the situation in Jos, there was bound to be a clash if both parties should hold their rallies.
He said when the parties were asked to submit the schedule for their rallies, the PDP had submitted its own earlier and booked the day for the rally. Daily Sun learnt that it took the intervention of the Inspector General of Police Hafis Ringim for the CPC presidential candidate to shelve his rally because he had felt his own should take precedence over that of the governor being a former head of state.
