We Had Prior Information about Kaduna Attacks – Church Leaders
ICC Note
Church leaders ask why the Nigerian army left the area where the members of radical Islamic group, Boko Haram, attacked. The Islamists killed several Chrisitians when they attacked churches in Kaduna State.
By Tony Akowe
06/09/2012 Nigeria (The Nation)-Christian leaders in Zaria said on Tuesday they had prior information about Sunday’s attack on their churches.
This came just as Kaduna State governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa visited the scene of Sunday’s bomb explosions at the Second ECWA and Christ the King Catholic Church both in Zaria.
Secretary of the Second ECWA DCC, Rev. Chris Dariya, told Yakowa and his entourage that they actually got information that Boko Haram members were planning to attack churches on Sunday.
…
“We were surprised when we discovered the following day, being Saturday, that the military personnel drafted here to maintain peace around the church have been withdrawn.
…
“Some of us became worried and we started thinking of how to avert the attacks. I came back on Saturday from a meeting and drove into my office which is just behind (the Church), that is the District Office.
“There were Soldiers that were actually patrolling and guarding the area. I saw them parking their things and I drove there to ask them what was happening.
“They told me that the community was disturbing them and that was why they decided to move. I told them that it was not the community that kept them here, but the government. The soldiers told me there were orders, but I don’t know where the orders came from,” Rev. Dariya added.
…
