8 Killed in Gombe Church (Deeper-Life Bible Church)

8 Killed in Gombe church

No fewer than eight people have been shot dead, while several others received gunshot wounds, following an attack on Deeper Life Bible Church, Bogo District of Nassarawu, in Gombe, by suspected members of Boko Haram Islamic sect Thursday night. Following the attack, fear has gripped Christians in the state.

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The Group Coordinator of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Bismark Binue, said the worshipers were observing ‘Miracle Service’ when the gunmen struck at about 7pm.

He said: “It is shocking and embarrassing. As an indigene of Gombe, I did know Gombe to be peaceful.”

Miracle George,18, whose parents were shot when the gunmen attacked the church, said it was a miracle she escaped alive.

According to her, “I was praying when I suddenly heard gunshots. I saw a man wearing thick black sweater by the window shooting.

“I don’t know how many they are. There was blood everywhere. He was just shooting.”

It was gathered that the left wrist of Miracle’s father, Mr. George Onyemachi, was cut off by bullet while her mother, Favour, was shot in the shoulder. They are among over 22 others rushed to the Federal Medical Centre and the Specialist Hospital, Gombe after the shooting.

Also injured is 10-year-old Magdalene Esemi, who was shot in the abdomen. Her father, Esemi Markson, a mechanic, said he was in his house, close to the church, when he heard gun shots.

“My son, Precious, who was with me, said, ‘Daddy I thought they have banned knock-out.’ We were wondering what it was all about when we heard more sounds.

“Not quite long, my two daughters, Ruth and Grace, ran home shouting that there was shooting in the church and they did not see Magdalene.”

He said Magdalene was shot as she was looking for her elder sisters, adding: “She is at the FMC and her condition is improving.”

He appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to bring vehicles to evacuate southerners from the North over Boko Haram’s threat.

“I want to call on the president to do something before the situation gets worst.

We should leave in peace rather than in crisis,” he said

Among the eight worshippers killed was the choir master’s wife, Mrs. Chima, Godwin Odoh, 37 and Sule, a printer.

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo visited the victims at the FMC and Specialist Hospital earlier yesterday.

The government, in statement after the visit, condemned the attack. He sympathised with families of the victims and pledged to foot the medical bill of those injured as well as pick the burial expenses of those killed.

The feeling among Christians, following the attack on Deeper Life Bible Church in Gombe is that Boko Haram is making good its threat that southern Christians should leave the North or be killed.

Virtually all shops and business outlets belonging to Christians, especially those from Southern Nigeria were locked yesterday when our correspondent went round some parts of the city.

“How do Christians continue to live like this in their own country? I want to call on President Jonathan to do something urgently about the situation. Let the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigerian (PFN) take decisions for all Christians. What has happened is unexplainable. What is the justification for attacking a small church and killing almost everybody? The blood of the innocent is upon the killers,” Pastor Binue said.