Tears, sorrow as 5 church bombing victims are buried in Bauchi

- from PAUL ORUDE -

It was wailing and sorrow yesterday, as five victims of Sunday’s suicide-bombing attack targeted at the Living Faith Church, (Winners Chapel) in Yelwa Tudu, Bauchi were buried. One of the victims, Mrs. Nyarim Jingina, who died with three months old pregnancy had earlier been buried on Tuesday.

At least, 20 people lost their lives, while several others were injured when the lone bomber in a Honda Civic car stormed the church premises in the bomb-laden car Among those buried yesterday was Irmiya Hassan Dodo, 67, a second republic House of Representatives member described as a man who lived a reserved life.

Others are Joseph Kehinde Aiyedipe, 30, student of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi; Samuel Olusegun, 16, a SS II student of Divine International School, Bauchi; Augustine Effion Ita, 32, a young health specialist; Suru Bamgboshe, a final year student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. The remains of the deceased, who were all members of the Winners church were interred at the Christian Cemetery, Yelwa Kagadama at about 12: 30p.m.

The presiding pastor of the church, Gauis Biyal, in his brief sermon admonished Christians not to seek revenge against anyone because of what has happened to their family members or friends. Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, Reverend Pokti Lewi also stressed the need for Christians not to take the laws into their hands because of what happened, saying CAN as a body would not support such action.

Lewi condemned the killings by soldiers, who were drafted to the bombing site, assuring that God would avenge the lives of the innocent people killed without a cause. In his own remarks, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Reverend Emeka Emefesi, said the community was in sorrow over the unfortunate incidence. Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Chapter of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has reacted to the statement made by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, (ATBTH), Dr. Mohammed Alkali, that no victim of gunshot was admitted at the hospital.

The CAN youth wing described the statement of the CMD, as “false, baseless, provocative, and unprofessional and a betrayal of the unity and peaceful coexistence of the nation.” In a press statement signed by the chairman of the association, Simon Samuel and made available to newsmen in Bauchi, the association cautioned the CMD against such misguided and sponsored statement.

The association warned that such careless remarks have the ability of creating tension and trauma for the families and sympathizers of the gunshot victims.