Last Sunday’s bomb blast at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Anguwar Yero, Malali in Kaduna State, is one among the many senseless killings in the state and some parts of northern Nigeria, since the insurgency of the dreaded Boko Haram sect. MIDAT JOSEPH in this report captures the bitter experiences of victims of that dastardly act, which left about 15, mostly children and over 100 injured.
Just like previous Sundays, faithful worshippers assembled at the church for the early morning Mass which commenced around 7a.m. with Rev. Fr. Mike Bonnet presiding over the mass as the officiating priest. But unlike other Sundays, the mass was still on when a loud sound was heard by the worshippers, who could only assume that they have been hit by an attack from terrorist(s).
The bomber according to eyes witness accounts was not allowed entrance into the church premises despite wearing a cross on his neck to deceive the church security team. The suicide bomber who came in a jeep with tinted glasses however forced his way into the church premises to wreak havoc on his unsuspecting victims.
A survivor, Andrew Edoma, who narrowly escaped death told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the psychological effect of the incident will throughout his life time remain with him.
Andrew, who sustained minor cuts on his head, wondered what could have made a man to have embarked on such deadly mission, killing people who “you have never had any account with.”
He said; “I have been reading about bomb blast, but this is the closest I have come in contact with it, and I pray this should be the last. The body of the suicide bomber was divided into three parts and it baffles me why a man would want to do such harm to himself. I pray he’s given just two seconds to see what happened to his body, not to talk of the harm he caused innocent people who were worshipping their God.”
The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Mike Bonnet, who is currently receiving medical attention while recounting his experience said he was carrying out the Mass when he heard the first bang, and what came to his mind was that it’s probably an electrical spark. So he called on the children to move away from the walls or any electrical points. But before he could finish instructing them, the bomb exploded and there was confusion and commotion.
Mrs. Mary Ikechukwu, who is popularly known in the church as ‘Mama Pepsi’ told LEADERSHIP Weekend that she is thankful to God for sparing her life.
According to her, everything happened within a minute and she taught the end has come. She recovered consciousness at Barau Dikko Hospital where her wounds were being stitched.
Like other survivors, Madam Mary said she only hear of bomb blasts incidents at different places and had never gotten close to it.
According to her: “It was a terrible experience and I am very optimistic we will scare the devil away. When I saw the body of the children on the floor, I did not even remember I have a cut on my head until somebody said; ‘blood is gushing out of your head Madam Pepsi.’ That was when it occurred to me I have a cut and I was taken to the ambulance.”
A cadet guard who was at the main gate of the church at the time of the incident and is currently at the 44 Military Reference Hospital, Kaduna, where he is receiving treatment told LEADERSHIP Weekend, “when the black Mercedes jeep E-Class approached the gate, we politely asked him to turn back, because he wanted to park inside. We told him that the Parish Priest is the only one entitled to park within the church premises. Like any other gentleman, he quietly reversed and started driving away.
But to our greatest bewilderment, he increased the speed and within seconds rammed into the wall, and before we could ascertain what was happening, there was a blast and everything around me went blank.
Cadet Sunday whose two eyes were affected still thanked God that he is alive because he taught he was already dead. Sunday marveled on why someone would embark on such disastrous adventure.
Mrs Sarah Shindong, wife of one of the victims at the hospital, said her husband had lacerations on his head.
She said: “My husband is not happy staying here. I think that if they would allow him to come for treatment here from home, we would appreciate it. The children are getting sick without him and the family is never the same without him at home.
“They restrict visits here, and the children are so close to their daddy. He eats, speaks and walks. I wish he gets out of here so that we can put this thing behind us. I have not slept for four hours since last Sunday.”
Mrs Rita Ejiro and her four children, all below the age of eight, were among the victims. She said, “I can’t sleep, the incidence keep on surfacing like a dream.”
Mathew Kayit, a 21-year-old student of Kaduna Polytechnic said, “I still hear the sound of the blast each time I try to close my eyes and sleep.
“My chest still hurts. But I feel safe and better here with the doctors always coming around to attend to me. The nurses and other hospital staff are just good.
Today the various survivors are still baffled with what happened on that bloody Sunday and what the aim of those behind such dastardly act is.
Just like words of one of the survivors, the memories of that ‘dark’ Sunday will not be forgotten in a hurry, not only by the victims and their families, but indeed every Nigerian.