Speaker of Plateau state House of Assembly, Hon. Istifanus Mwansat was among hundreds of Christian worshippers who escaped death by whiskers yesterday at the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), following a bomb explosion near the church during worship service. Daily Champion gathered that at least, seven persons died in the incident, including the two suspected bombers who were on a motorcycle to convey the bombs to COCIN and ECWA church in the vicinity, when the explosives failed them. However, the state police command said only four persons died in the incident.

Also, another bomb was found near the Mountain of Fire and Miracle (MFM) church in the city of Jos, when the members of the Special Task Force (STF) suspected a bag being carried by a suspected bomber on a motorcycle who allegedly threw it on the ground.

He was allegedly coming from Gangare ward when the church security men confronted him on the contents of the bag he was carrying when he threw the bag that contains the bomb and escaped.

State police commissioner, Alhaji Abdulrahman Akano confirmed four deaths, with some suspects arrested.

At the COCIN, a combined thanks giving service was held in honour of the immediate past Reverend of the Church, Rev. H. Miri who was transferred to an academy of the church recently.

Worshippers were held hostage, as rampaging Muslim youths kept throwing stones inside the church premises, smashing windscreens and vehicle parts in the process, until the Commander of the STF, Brig. General Hassan Umaru arrived the scene and gave order for the use of minimum force on the attackers.

Trouble started around 9:45 am, when the Pastor in COCIN church, simply identified as Alex was delivering the Sunday sermon and a loud explosion sound was heard. The entire congregation then scampered to safety, forcing the clergy man to suspend the sermon.

Shortly, women and children started crying as the loud sound was accompanied by tear gas. Unknown to the congregation that a bomb had exploded and the attempt to get out of the church premises was thwarted by the stone throwing youths out the gate.

A petrol bomb thrown on the roof of the Reverend in charge of the church almost ignited the house until a combined effort of Christian youths in the premises, fought hard to put off the fire that was raging then.

Daily Champion gathered that the death toll could be more than 10, as especially some stubborn Muslim youths who refused to heed to the Special Task Force, STF, warnings to stay away from the church premises.

However, the state government has confirmed the incident and has called for calm and advising the people to report any suspicious movement around them to the security agents immediately for action.

State Commissioner of Information, Gregory Yenlong said in a statement that the two bombers died in the process of conveying the deadly objects to their target areas, and warned that government would not fold its arm and watch people take the laws in to their hands.

It will be recalled that more than 200 people have been killed in sectarian violence since late last year in and around Jos between the mostly-Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.
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Christian youths angered by what they took to be an attempted attack by members of the Muslim Hausa-Fulani ethnic group set fire to the corpses of the two men in the Nasarawa Gwom area of Jos, Akano said.

There have been frequent clashes between Christian and Muslim mobs in villages around Jos since a series of bombs were detonated during Christmas Eve celebrations in December, killing scores of people.

Tensions are rooted in decades of resentment between indigenous groups, mostly Christian or animist, who are vying for control of fertile farmlands and for economic and political power with migrants and settlers from the Muslim north.

The violence is largely contained within one region and does not on its own threaten to derail presidential and parliamentary elections in April, though the area is a potential flashpoint during local polls.