10 killed in attacks on Nigerian churches
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E-mail Xinhua, June 18, 2012
At least 10 people were killed and 40 others were seriously injured in multiple attack on churches across northwest Nigeria's Kaduna State on Sunday, according to sources.
Rescue officials in the state confirmed to Xinhua that at least five people including two children died at the ECWA church in Wusasa area of the state, while three and two other people also died in separate suicide bomb attacks on CKC church Zaria and Shalom Pentecostal Church in Bypass axis of the Kaduna metropolis respectively, during mass.
A rescue official Ahmed Auwal told Xinhua that some corpses and severely injured victims were immediately taken to four health facilities in the state including Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital, Zaria and St. Louis Hospital, Wusasa.
"For now, I can tell you authoritatively that 10 people have been confirmed in all the attacks and 40 others which I counted are still lying in the hospitals," he said.
He did not rule out the possibility of a higher number of casualties because of the crisis that broke out in the state due to the bombings.
"Relevant authorities might inform the media of the latest development if the need arises," he added.
State police spokesperson Aminu Lawal also confirmed the suicide attacks to Xinhua but declined to speak further on the number of casualties.
Earlier, a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) official in the state said rescue officials could not immediately gain access to the Shalom Pentecostal Church in Bypass axis of the metropolis because irate youths had taken over the place.
"There is pandemonium in the area right now because the youths are angry about the incessant loss of lives and property occasioned by suicide bomb attacks," said the official who declined to be named.
Residents who now live in palpable fear have remained indoors due to the attacks, he added.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government has imposed a dusk-to- dawn curfew on the citizens to curtail irate Christian youths in various parts of the city who went on rampage over suicide bombing attacks against churches in Zaria and Kaduna town this morning.
In a statement made available to Xinhua, the state governor, Patrick Yakowa condemned the attacks and admonished the citizens to strictly adhere to the curfew.
"Government regrets the inconveniences this drastic measure will cause to all and sundry, but the state government considers this to be necessary in other to avert further lost of lives and properties in the state again," he said, while urging the security agencies to enforce compliance with immediate effect.
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