The cleric in charge of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, near Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja, Very Rev. Isaac Achi, has put the death toll from the Christmas Day bombing of the church at 43, with 73 injured. The death toll is higher than the 34 given by the federal government.
“Up till yesterday when I found it uncomfortable, I moved into a community and I was able to identify 20 parishioners that died in the explosions. This morning (Thursday), they brought in a list of 23 others confirmed to have died in the blast,’ the cleric told journalists.
Meanwhile, Most Rev. Martin Uzokwu, the Catholic Bishop of Minna (who is in charge of the church in Madalla), has ordered the cancellation of church services in the town on New Year’s eve to prevent another attack.
The bishop ordered all parishes in the area not to hold the traditional mid-night service, but to meet by 4.00 p.m. (local time) to pray on the New Year’s eve.
‘On December 31, mass should hold by 4.00 p.m. to thank God for the out-going year and everybody will observe the Passover night with their families. We are to converge again for Sunday service of January 1st. Nobody is allowed to sleep in the church during this period,’ he said.