Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has paid a visit to the site of a suicide bomb attack in the capital city of Jos, where four lives were lost on Sunday, and has called on residents to “calm down” and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

In a wave of fresh violence in the central city, an assailant, who eye witnesses described as a young man, had forced his car bomb onto the premises of the Church of Christ, detonating the device and claiming four lives, including his own.

Jang visited the church, a worship place he is known to attend, and spoke to press and concerned residents. He assured worried citizens and church-goers that security forces have “taken every measure” to “unravel” the attack and will punish the culprits behind it.

The Pleateau governor said he suspected “that this is not the only church they have targeted,” but said he wasn’t surprised that his church was attacked.

Jos city has been the site of several ethnic clashes. Churches in the central city have also suffered attacks at the hands of the radical Boko Haram sect, including the attack on the Mount of Fire ministries during the Christmas Day bombings of 2011.

An eye witness who spoke to Channels Television Jos correspondent, Yemi Kosoko, said the suicide bomber had tried to force his way through the gates that had been closed for worship time, and had blared his car horn.

The eye witness then reported hearing a loud blast. At least 38 worshippers were wounded in the attack.
Jang advised the residents of Jos to “allow security to do their work,” and “go back to their homes and remain indoors.”

He assures that nothing will “take away the peace” enjoyed by the state.