Twenty-three-year old, Mrs. Gift Nwachukwu and her 18-month-old baby, Destiny, were victims of 2011 Christmas day bomb blast at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, but survived the incident to tell the story. In this interview with our Niger State  correspondent, ADELOWO OLADIPO, the woman said she has every reason to glorify God for sparing her life and that of her little baby. Excerpts:

Can you give an insight into your background and what happened to you during the bomb blast on Christmas day?
My name is Gift Nwachukwu, I am 23, and my daughter’s name is Destiny. We were affected by the last Christmas day’s bomb blast at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State. On the fateful Sunday, after we had closed from the first mass, I was standing under the mango tree in front of the church, with the hope of getting a commercial motorcycle  to take me and my child to our house within the community.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang which later resulted in fire outbreak and there was smoke everywhere. I was  in the midst of the confusion that had enveloped the church premises while my baby had already fallen off from my hands.  I  initially lost my hearing completely   because my ears were blocked.

I could no longer see the road opposite the church   clearly  just as I saw my baby burst into tears, while her face was covered with blood. In my attempt to pick up my baby from the ground, I also fell down. I did not know which direction to follow when I rose  to my feet again. While I was also bleeding, I tried to cover my baby with my wrapper, so that we could both leave the scene of the raging fire and the confusion that had enveloped the church environment, though  we had been terribly hurt.

Did anyone come to your aide when you cried out for help?
Yes, somebody held my hands and led me to the main road and I flagged down  the first commercial motorcycle that came towards my direction. I asked  the man to help   me, but he declined. Then came another commercial motorcycle which took me and my baby to Lucas Hospital.  When  I got to the hospital, I asked a   nursing sister  that I met to  help me because my  baby was dying from   loss of blood as a  result of the head injury she sustained. At the time I was talking to the nurse, my baby was already weak.

Did the doctor come out to attend to you and your baby?
After waiting for almost one hour, nobody attended to me, I got up and left the hospital. As I was trekking back home,  I saw  an aunt who lived in our area, she asked me what the problem was. This time my baby was already soaked in her blood. I explained to her what happened and how we managed to escape. She suggested whether she could take me to Lucas Hospital , but I said no because Lucas Hospital was already  filled  up  with many victims of the bomb blast. I told  her that  my baby could die any moment if she did not get medical attention.

Why didn’t you  call your husband when  you took your baby to the hospital ?
He had  travelled out of  Suleja for business. The aunt took us to another private hospital where  a doctor on duty said there was the need to stitch my baby’s  injuries and that of mine. When I complained about my hearing problem to the doctor, he said with time, it would heal naturally. But it was amazing that the doctor did not collect money from us after treating me and my baby.

Where are your parents?
They are in our hometown in Ebonyi State.  Before I got married, I was staying with my elder sister. And prior to my staying with her, I went home and told my parents to allow me go to the city so that I could find something doing and they both agreed to my request.

Did you regret going to worship at the first service on Christmas day?
Not at all , rather, I thank God for my life and that of my baby. The reason for thanking God is because even if I  had stayed at home and God had wanted this thing to happened, it would still have happened and I might not have been able to prevent it.

How old is your baby and has the church's management given you anything since the incident occurred,  in  form of assistance?
She is one year, seven months old.The church has not given me anything  since we were discharged from the hospital, but I am not blaming anybody for my plight.