Bomb Explosion At Redeemed Church In Potiskum, Yobe Kills 6; Gunmen Kill 30 In Raids On Zamfara Villages

Pastor and members reportedly killed as Suicide bomber set off explosive device during Sunday service

A bomb explosion suspected to be from a male suicide bomber has killed six persons including the bomber.

The blast occurred at a local branch of Redeemed Christian Church of God along Bauchi road in Potiskum Town, Yobe State.

A resident of the town who is also one of the officials working with the aid agencies informed PREMIUM TIMES that the bomb went off at a time worshipers were observing the Sunday service.

The resident said “six persons died” from the blast.

The Police have also confirmed that six people died from the explosion.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Yobe, Toyin Gbadegesin, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Damaturu that the dead included the suicide bomber.

“A male suicide bomber detonated a bomb at Redeemed Church at Jigawa area of Potiskum, killing five on the spot,” Mr. Gbadegesin said. “A female member of the church who sustained injuries also died while receiving treatment in the hospital.”

He said the injured are receiving treatment at various health facilities in the area.

Potiskum last suffered a twin suicide attack on June 15, in which 10 people were killed and several others injured.

Meanwhile News Agency of Nigeria reports about 30 persons have been reported dead following fresh attacks by gunmen in Birnin-Magaji local government area of Zamfara state.

Muhammad Gusami, chairman of the council, told NAN on Sunday that the attacks took place in Kokeya and Chigama villages in the area.

Gusami said the gunmen invaded Kokeya village with motorcycles and killed two persons, set some houses ablaze and carted away animals mostly cows.

He said that the “unfortunate incident” had been reported to the divisional police officer of Birnin-Magaji and that the zone was under surveillance.

Gusami said the next day, the attackers invaded the neighbouring village of Chigama.

“The gunmen, however, killed more than 30 persons whose bodies were still being recovered from the bush,” he said.

The chairman said the corpses have been taken to Birnin-magaji general hospital.

He said the Chigama attack took place shortly after three police trucks left the area with the impression that peace had returned to the communities.

He added that the bandits also set several houses on fire in the second attack on Chigama village.

Ibrahim Sani, a witness, also told NAN that the gunmen who invaded Kokeya struck while the villagers finished praying.

“The attackers shot sporadically in the air which prompted the people of Chigama to intervene,” he said.

“That might have provoked the gunmen to come back so as to punish Chigama people for trying to prevent the attack the previous day.

“While three persons were killed from Kokeya and Chigama on the first day in Kokeya, more than 50 were killed on the second day in Chigama while several houses were burnt.”

Sanusi Amiru, the police public relations officer in the state, confirmed the attack, saying  security personnel have been deployed to the communities and that normalcy had been restored.