BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI

 MAIDUGURI—In a rare display of solidarity, stripped of religious biases and sentiments, the Christian Association of Nigeria has condemned last Monday bomb attack on the Muslims who were praying in a mosque at the University of Maiduguri. The attack, carried out by three suicide bombers claimed six lives including a professor of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Aliyu Mani.

Reacting to the suicide bombing, CAN declared that those who were behind the attack were demon-possessed President of CAN, Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, in a statement he issued argued that only satanic agents amidst us could perpetrate such dastardly acts and wondered when worshipping God has become a crime.

Demon-possessed persons behind it—CAN

According to him, “The Christian Association of Nigeria condemns the wicked and criminal bombing of people worshipping in the mosques at the University of Maiduguri. What offence did these worshippers commit to warrant this? Only the demon possessed individuals can be behind this type of act. The Christian Association of Nigeria commiserates with the family of the victims of the terrorist attack and prays for the comfort of the Holy Spirit for them. The Association as well prays for quick recovery for those who were injured”.

The organization then tasked the security agencies to go after the terrorists who have been dislodged from their strongholds but were going about attacking soft targets with a view to ending the menace as soon as possible.

•Scene of the bomb blast at UNIMAID
Inset: •Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle

Abubakar Shekau claims responsibility

Leader of the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, while taking responsibility for the Monday attack on the University said in a YouTube audio recording that the mosque was “ungodly”. Abubakar Shekau further said in the audio message: “The bomb that happened this morning, it was by my people. Don’t deceive people that it’s a mosque, how would you build a mosque and do ungodly things in it. We are not angry with Nigeria. You didn’t kill anyone in Sambisa. We are praying that we don’t change; Koran is our teacher; this is the message we are sending to you. Are you [Buhari] as powerful as God? You should know it’s Shekau talking and I’m alive and we did it. Even if King Pharaoh repents, we will not accept it.”

 How attack was carried out

Saturday Vanguard gathered that three suicide bombers sneaked into the university and detonated Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, at three different locations, at a mosque near Gates 4 and 5 of the institution, killing Professor Mani, and six others including the suicide bombers. The attacks also left 15 people seriously injured, who were recuperating at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

Sources at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, however said, two out of the 15 injured persons have died as a result of the severity of the injuries they sustained in the blasts.

The attacks forced university authorities to suspend all academic activities on that day, even as all examinations slated for Monday were suspended pending when the security situation would improve.

It was however gathered that thousands of students who reside off campus were denied entry by security personnel stationed at all the gates while those on campus were held up in their hostels.

Sources said the incident took place at 5:35am, when Muslim Ummah were performing their morning prayers.

A resident of the institution, who simply gave his name as Mallam Umar Ibrahim in an interview said: “The two female suicide bombers entered the university through Gates 4 and 5. The explosives went up and hit two mosques at 5.15a.m., and 5.35a.m.simultaneously.

Saturday Vanguard report that, same day, a female suicide bomber was gunned down by Mobile Policemen at the outskirt of Muna Garrage, while attempting to also sneak into the institution.

Governor Kashim Shettima of the state visited the scenes, where he sympathized with the Vice- Chancellor, Professor Abubakar Njodi, management staff and students and promised to beef up security in and around the institution.

He said, “I have come to commiserate with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abubakar Njodi and the varsity community over the unfortunate incident that took place. The worst is over, as the Boko Haram insurgents had been targeting the institution for long to attack and kill”.

He explained the university authority had done everything humanely possible to protect people’s lives and property at the University and urged Prof. Njodi and other security agencies to take extra security measures to forestall future attacks within and outside the varsity.

In his response, the Vice Chancellor said the institution had taken immediate action to forestall further attacks.