A bomb blast has killed several people people and left scores badly injured in Kaduna.(PHOTO ESSAY: Suicide Bomber Attacks a Church in Nigeria )

The governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, has described the St Rita's Church bombing as an act of terrorism that has nothing to do with religion. Yakowa called for all hands to be on deck to curtail further occurrence of such dastardly act in the state and the country at large.

Speaking during a visit to the worship place at Unguwar Yero, Badarawa village, the governor said he sympathised with the victims of the bomb blast and the families of those who lost their lives. The governor, who was in company of some members of the state House of Assembly and some other government officials, assured the church members of government's support as well as security posts in the area. "I have gone round the hospitals and I've seen for myself how they are feeling and their families. I assure you of my support," said Yakowa

A reverend father thanked the governor and his entourage, explaining that the damage done by the blast was beyond repairs as the whole building including the roof was seriously damaged. He said that a date for the burial of those who died would be announced soon.

Also, the district head of Badarawa/Malali, Alhaji Shehu Ja'e, expressed his appreciation to the people of the area for not allowing the incident to escalate. He also thanked the security operatives that immediately swung into action and called on the state government to put checkpoints in the area as a measure to ensure proper security in the area.

Attack devilish, inhuman - ACF, JNI

Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the attack, saying that killing oneself and other people in the name of God is not in line with God's injunction.

The Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar also condemned the act in its totality and called for calm and restraint.

ACF, in a statement by its spokesman, Anthony Sani, said the attack on the church was more distressing because all efforts were being made by the youths across all faiths to bring about lasting peaceful coexistence in Kaduna.

The northern group's statement reads in part: "Those who, therefore, derive pleasure in killing themselves in order to kill other people in the name of God as a way of addressing their perceived grievances should lay down their arms and embrace constructive dialogue, precisely because resort to violent conflict can never solve the problems.

"ACF, therefore, sympathises with those who lost loved ones to the attack and with those who got injured; they should take heart in the hope that God would take control and make appropriate compensation.

May the souls of those who lost their lives rest in peace.

"ACF also wishes to appeal to religious leaders and youths of all faiths not to allow the recent attack to discourage them from their noble efforts at condemning violent conflict and promoting peaceful coexistence and national security through relative pluralism and tolerance.

"Our leaders must also note that great men are defined by great challenges, like the ones we have now. So they should be unwavering in their effort to bring about normality into the polity for the common good."

The JNI, in a statement signed by its secretary-general, Dr. Abubakar Khalid, prayed that the perpetrators behind the act would never succeed in causing chaos in Kaduna.

"We implore the security agents to be more vigilant and intensify measures of curbing this dastardly act of bombings. As for those affected, we pray for a better return of what they have lost; and also to the families of those who lost their lives, may Allah grant them fortitude to bear the loss.

"Jama'atu Nasril Islam calls on all Muslim Ummah to always intensify prayers to Almighty Allah to bring an end to this kind of situation and ensure peace and tranquillity in our country and we pray against future occurrence," the statement said.