UPDATE on Kaduna Bomb Blast; kills three, injures others

                                        
Just when Nigerians thought it was going to be a violence-free Sallah weekend, a bomb blast has rocked Ungwar Yero in the Nigerian city of Kaduna.
It happened around 8.30 a.m today at St. Rita catholic Church.
Witnesses said a suicide bomber had rammed a car loaded with bomb into the church.
One witness confirmed three members of the church dead along with the suicide bomber. His shattered body was carried away in a pick up van.

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Another witness explained that the suicide bomber , who parked his Honda CRV car outside the church premises waited until the Mass commenced and then at about 8.30am tried to force himself through the entrance gate but when he was refused entry by security men stationed at the gate, he forced himself through and the bomb in the car exploded .
“We saw the car parked outside the church, when we were going in for morning mass but we never suspected that the guy is a suicide bomber, it is unfortunate ”, he said.
According to him, the Reverend father of the church and many others were injured.
News of the attack on the church spread like bush fire around Kaduna, making those trying to attend church services return home and triggering fears that Christian youths may plot an attack against Muslims.
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Earlier, fears had been expressed that the bomb could cause grave damage as it reverberated like a 7.0 earthquake.
Shehu Musa, a resident of Malali neighborhood told US that the bomb blast caused panic across Malali area with many residents scampering for safety before it was discovered later that it was a bomb explosion, which occurred far off. The church is located in the community.
“The blast shook the whole area and it was obvious that it was a bomb, ” Musa said.
Soldiers and policemen have promptly cordoned off the main road leading to the area as they moved in to assess the damage.
“ Experience has shown that each a bomb went off, there could be another bomb planted around so ,we take precautionary measures to stop traffic until we secure the area effectively,” said one of the soldier manning the barricade.
Kaduna Police Public Relations Officer , Aminu Lawan said the police and other security agencies are on top of the situation and will ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizens within the area.
It was not clear if the bomb was planted by the Boko Haram bombers.