One of the security officials at the premises of the bombed Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Wusasa, Zaria, Linus Abu, who narrowly escaped death, said: “The bomber disguised as a woman, the car was tinted, I saw him from the front screen; he dressed like a woman.”
Corroborating the claim of Mr. Abu, Rev. Nathanial Waziri, the senior pastor in charge of the ECWA Church, Wusasa, Zaria, also confirmed that the bomber disguised himself as a woman.
He said: “At about 8:50am, a car wanted to force itself into the church and, when he hit the church, the bomb exploded at the gate while we were conducting the service, and immediately the bomb exploded, the church service ended.
“We have three children who lost their lives at the explosion and many people, mostly children, were injured. As a pastor, I have forgiven the bomber. The government must wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and properties of the citizens. The body parts of the bomber were scattered in pieces.”
Another eyewitness at the ECWA church also informed us that the first in the series of bombs that exploded in the church went off at the Children Sunday School, leaving the sunday school teacher, and 10 children dead. It was reported that four children who were seen playing outside the church hall were all killed before the attackers got their explosives into the church hall.
Eye witness reported that five men ran into the church and threw in some detonated bombs through the church door. The bombers who took to their heels were allegedly caught by some youths and beaten to death.
Also 11 worshippers at the Christ the King Catholic Cathedral, Zaria were killed when a suicide bomber came into the church and got his bomb detonated. It was confirmed by an eye witness who escaped through the window of the church that aside from the 11 people, over 40 worshippers were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries.
Also the Shalom Church International located in Trikania, Kaduna was attacked by another suicide bomber, killing over 5 people and leaving many other worshippers injured.
Two people manning the gate of the church and other two members were those killed when the suicide bomber drove into the church gate. A soldier was also killed in the attack.
The different attacks which took place during church service in the morning led to a reprisal as organized by some Christian youth who stormed the streets in search Muslims.
It was reported that mosques belonging to the Hausa/ Fulanis were attacked while three Muslims were killed during the attack.
In Sabo area of the State, thick dark smoke filled the air from goods believed to belong to Muslims which were set ablaze by the angry Christian youth.
About 500 Muslim traders in Sabo market who got trapped in the violence ran to a nearby army post for safety.Helicopter and Military patrol vans were seen patrolling around the state.