The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State, Rev. John Hayab, says the bombing suspect arrested while attempting to blow up a Winners’ Chapel Parish in Kaduna State on Sunday identified himself as Mohammed Sani when he was apprehended by the church.
Hayab claimed after the church handed him over to the police, the suspect’s name suddenly changed to Samuel Nathaniel.
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He, therefore, said there was a need for the matter to be thoroughly investigated.
The CAN chairman said this during an interview with Punch on Monday.
The cleric said, “The church was in session when the young man came in, dropped his bag and exited as if he was going to the toilet, but didn’t come back in time. Some church members became suspicious. The church had put security measures in place such that they monitor everything going on in the church and they even have CCTV cameras.
Hayab said the mix-up in the name of the suspect had further given credence to the claims by the United States that Nigeria remained a terrorist-prone country because of a lack of database.
He said the religion which the suspect practises should not be the focus of public discussions but the act of terrorism.
The cleric said the police had failed to effectively investigate and profile suspects, adding that a few weeks ago, the force also arrested a hoodlum and erroneously paraded him as a pastor.
Hayab said there were Christians bearing Muslim names and vice versa.
Hayab said it was curious that the attempted bombing took place at the same time CAN’s rally against terrorism was taking place.
He said the church would not be intimidated by anyone. Punch
