Nigeria's state denies rumors of reprisal attacks

A view shows St. Rita's Catholic church in the Malali village, after a bomb attack, in Nigeria's Badarawa area of Kaduna, Oct 28, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

KADUNA, Nigeria - Nigeria's central north Kaduna state government on Sunday called for calm and urged the people to ignore rumors of reprisal attacks for the church bombing earlier in the day.

Spokesperson to the state governor Reuben Buhari made the call in a statement reaching Xinhua, saying that anyone caught spreading such false information would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

He condoled with those who lost their loved ones and properties in the blast.

Buhari stressed that the security agencies were on top of the situation and assured residents of adequate security.

The state police command said on Sunday that a suicide bomber attacked St. Rita's Catholic Church in Badarawa area of Kaduna, killing eight of worshipers and injuring dozens of others.

Olufemi Adenaike, the state commissioner for police said the attacker drove a Honda CRV Jeep, laden with bombs, into the church building at about 8.46 a.m. local time.

The bombing destroyed substantial parts of the church building.

Meanwhile, men of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police have been deployed in various locations of the Kaduna metropolis to maintain law and order.