Reprisal attacks after the bombings led to the death of over 50 people with scores injured and property worth millions destroyed in Kaduna.
LEADERSHIP correspondents who visited some of the scenes confirmed that a number of Achaba (motorcycle) riders and their motorcycles were burnt by the rioting youth.
Although the actual number of casualties at the church is yet to be confirmed, an eyewitness who sought anonymity told our correspondents that over 50 lives were lost and several others received various degrees of injuries.
He said: “I can tell you that over 50 people died and many others were injured. We don’t know why these evil people are doing this to churches.”
About 35 victims of the reprisal attacks were taken to St. Gerard’s Hospital within the metropolis according to the hospital’s public relations officer. Seven of them were dead on arrival.
The retaliating Christian youths moved around with cutlasses and sticks, among other weapons. They burnt a mosque at the “Television Area” and another at Goningora was broken into and vandalised.
A combined team of armed security men later condoned off the church area and environs, after several efforts made to disperse angry youths with the use of tear gas and gun shots fired into the air.
Officials of the Saint Gerard Catholic Hospital, where most of the victims were taken to, confirmed to LEADERSHIP that over 40 people were brought into the hospital with seven burnt to death.
Among those who suffered from the reprisal attacks was a photo journalist with the Daily Independent newspaper, Nathaniel Jibrin. He was going to get snapshots of the Trikania church blast when angry youths attacked him and inflicted severe cuts on his body.
Although he managed to survive the attack, he is presently at the Saint Gerard Catholic Hospital where he is receiving treatment at the intensive-care unit.