10 die in Jos church blast, protests

Jos – At least 10 people died yesterday and about 24 injured in a bomb explosion which hit another church in Jos, the Plateau State capital and protests that trailed the blast.

Among the dead were a pregnant woman who was burnt beyond recognition and members of the church’s Boy Scouts manning the gate. Two protesting young men were also shot dead by security men in the violence that followed the blast.

The blast went off at Saint Finbarr’s Catholic Church located in Rayfield area of Jos not far from the Government House as three suicide bombers in a Volkswagen Vento car attempted to force their way into the church premises.

An eye witness said the blast went off at about 10.30 am just as the second service of the church got under way. The suicide bombers accompanied by another on motorbike detonated the bomb when it became obvious that they would not be allowed into the premises.