SOME 2,000 mourners crowded St Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, on Wednesday for a funeral service for victims of a Christmas Day attack claimed by the Boko Haram, which killed at least 44 people.Ten coffins were on display inside the church during the service, which saw cries of anger as well as prayers for those who committed the bombing.In a sign of sectarian tensions that the Christmas bombing and other attacks had sparked, mourners at the church reacted with a chorus of 'no, no, no,' following a suggestion that the Emir of Suleja, Mallam Awal Ibrahim, be allowed to speak.Some mourners at the church wept as they approached the altar, where the coffins, included that of a church guard, were draped in Nigeria's green and white national flag.'Beyond forgiveness, let us pray for the conversion of those who have allowed themselves to be used by the devil to perpetrate such a diabolic act, targeting and killing innocent men, women and children,' said Archbishop John Onaiyekan.Many of those killed by the bomb that ripped through a crowd exiting mass had already been buried by their families, as Wednesday's service was designated for the 26 victims who were parishioners of the church.A total of 17 people were buried on Wednesday at a nearby gravesite, including those left unrecognisable by the force of the attack.The Emir of Suleja, who arrived on the church premises at about 10.00 a.m when the mass was about to commence, was forced to remain in his car when the procession started and all through the almost three hours funeral service, as he awaited the interment of the bodies of the 18 victims within the church premises. After the mass, dignitaries were invited to give their goodwill messages and when the name of the emir was mentioned, the congregation in the church auditorium rejected the traditional ruler or his representatives from addressing them.It took the leadership of the church more than 15 minutes to be able to calm the nerves of parishioners who were obviously angered by the fact that the emir did not visit the church to condole with the church or the bereaved families of the victims of the bomb blast.He was later advised by the associate priest, Reverend Father Christopher Barde, after consultations with the leadership of the church, to leave. The emir then drove out of the church at 12.38 p.m.The Senate President, Senator David Mark, who spoke through Senator Ayogu Eze, said the National Assembly would work with the Federal Government to fight acts of terrorism in the country.Those who attended the burial included representative of President Goodluck Jonathan, Pastor Abbah Mshelia, who is the deputy chaplain of the Villa chapel; Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, former minister in the Obasanjo-led government and Professor Jerry Gana.The mass was also attended by three Catholic archbishops and eight other bishops. Other clergymen in attendance included the representatives of the president of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Okoye and clerics from other Christian denominations.
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