5 confirmed dead in suicide attack on church

Five people have been confirmed dead in Yobe State after a suicide bomber attacked a church in the state capital, Potiskum.

The bomber entered the church during service on Sunday, July 5, 2015, and blew himself up just as worshippers were trooping into the building.

The pastor of the church, the City of David Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a woman and her two children were among those killed in the attack.

“Before he (the suicide bomber) could be stopped, he had detonated the bomb strapped to him, which led to the death of six people; the suicide bomber, the pastor of the church, Dotun Okerinola; and four others,” a source told Punch.

The attack has also been confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Toyin Gbadegesin.

“A male suicide bomber at about 10 o’clock this morning detonated a bomb at Redeemed Church, in the Jigawa area of Potiskum, killing five persons including the suicide bomber,” Gbadegesin said.

“People were just going to the church when the bomber entered, otherwise the casualty figure would have been higher,” a Red Cross official, Hassan Alhaji Muhammad, told Reuters.

One person is also said to have been seriously injured in the incident which is believed to be the work of terrorist sect, Boko Haram.