It was rain of blood and carnage in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, as about six gunmen around 8pm shot eleven people and unleashed terror on innocent worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church in Demsawo area of Yola metropolis.

Eyewitness account had it that about eleven people, including a pastor,  were shot dead by the rampaging gunmen.

A relative of one of the victims, Mr. David Molomo confirmed to Sunday Tribune that he lost a brother, one Emmanuel Sunday who was a member of staff of the  Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The gunmen also went to a nearby barber’s saloon where three others were shot dead.

The Friday massacre was the first of its kind in Yola after that of Mubi, the second largest town in Adamawa State where 20 persons were killed by unidentified gunmen.

While speaking to newsmen, Pastor Joshua of the Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, in a reaction to the killing of twelve members of the church on Friday evening at Jimeta-Yola, during an evening worship, said that they were in Yola to see their chairman who was shortly leaving Yola for Jos before the incident took place.

“We had arrived barely 30 minutes and were having a meeting with our chairman when we heard gunshots and we thought it was the vigilante group. But unknown to us, it was in the church compound,” he stated.

Pastor Joshua lamented that the church service ended  in confusion as the presiding pastor was shot dead while on the pulpit.

“At the last count, eleven people laid dead and several others were injured”, he moaned.

When Sunday Tribune visited the Yola Specialist Hospital, a member of staff at the emergency ward said that eleven dead bodies were brought while five others were battling to stay alive.

Sunday Tribune also spoke to the Reverend in charge of ECWA Bishara One Demsawo, Reverend Michael Hamman, who said there was need for the government to take immediate steps towards the security of the nation.

Contacted for comments, the Police Public Relations Officer in charge of Adamawa Police Command, ASP Altine Daniel confirmed the incident, adding that the police were investigating the matter.

It would be recalled that on the same day, many people were killed while organising the funeral of two of their relations who were killed on the previous day in Mubi.

Reports had it that the mourners were taken by surprise when three men on a motorcycle opened fire on them, killing and wounding many.

Already the state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the whole state to calm frayed nerves and also forestall further killings.

In a statewide broadcast, the governor of the state,Murtala Nyako, expressed regret over the killings in the state in the past few days. The governor said the state had placed a N25m reward for whoever provides any useful information about the killers.

He urged non-indigenes resident in the state not to contemplate leaving the state. He assured them that security agents were on top of the situation.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Buba Marwa (rtd), while condemning the act, disclosed that the killings were politically motivated by the ruling government in the state so as to remain in power beyond 2012.

Addressing the media on the killings, Marwa who wondered why killings were occurring, with only a few days to the state elections, said “the aim of the ruling government is to further divide the state according to religious lines, between Muslims and Christians, and our great party CPC, and to claim that it is the handiwork of Boko Haram. Unfortunately for the ruling party, Boko Haram which always claims responsibility for its actions did not claim responsibility for this action. This is not a Boko Haram action.”

Swiftly reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Adamawa State government, Alhaji Maija’ma Adamu condemned Marwa’s statement, saying that he was only hiding away from being culpable over the crisis in the state.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned in the strongest terms the latest round of ethnic and religious terrorist attacks in Jigawa, Gombe and in Mubi and Jimeta, Adamawa State, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

Speaking to newsmen on Saturday evening, shortly on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the former Vice President said the killing of 30 innocent Nigerians by bandits was not only criminal and barbaric, but also a dangerous threat to the unity of this country, especially coming two weeks after the terrorist attack on Christian worshippers at the St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla on Christmas Day.

According to Atiku , the attack on defenceless citizens anywhere carries the risk of polarising the nation and weakening the efforts to take a united stand against terrorists and their evil agenda.

He said at a time leaders were making united efforts  to find solutions to this mindless and cruel incidents of terrorist violence, some bandits with hideous motives appeared determined to set Nigerians against one another.

While Boko Haram had not claimed responsibility for the action, major markets in the state have remained closed  follwoing the incidents.

Comments (2)

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To make ungovernable government possible.
written by Rowland, January 08, 2012

Sabe Atiku declared in the past that he would make the government ungovernable for Jonathan, why is he now showing crocodile's tears as if he is innocent. God will judge everybody.

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mr
written by jo, January 08, 2012

No northern state governor should say he regret the killing of the christian residing in their state, cause they know who is doing this.

we the southerns understand that perfectly. and we will also start killing all Muslim worshipers in our southern states as well, an eye for an eye and nose for nose. kill and we kill, lets see where Nigeria is going. IDIOTS

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