Suspected terrorists blow up Catholic Church in Taraba

Explosives suspected to have been planted by terrorists have destroyed part of Catholic Chapel of St. John’s College, Mutum-Biyu, the headquarters of Gassol Local Government area of Taraba State.

Principal of the College, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ikyaan, told journalists that the device went off around 7:20 pm on Sunday.

He said no life was lost, the building was affected.

“The youths and some students were holding a programme in the chapel which double as the school hall and left the premises shortly before the explosion,” he said.

Ikyaaan called for a thorough investigation to unravel those behind the attack, demanding that the perpetrators be brought to book.

It was gathered that after the attack in the church, the terrorists also went inside the town and started shooting.

A resident, Mallam Dalhatu Sule said the shooting started when people were observing Magrib prayers.

He said they were forced to shorten the time of prayers and leave the mosques hurriedly.

Mutumbiyu town, in recent time, has come under attacks by terrorists, leading to abductions.

“The terrorists attempted to abduct a businessman named Alhaji Babale but luckily for him, he escaped through the back door of a mosque inside his filling station, where he was praying,” Sule said.

Taraba State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Usman, confirmed the attack.

“What happened was that some kidnappers attempted to seize the owner of one filling station in the town; fortunately the owner of the filing station escaped unhurt. The attackers threw an explosive into the church to scare people and enable them escape from the town,” he stated.

(Daily Trust)