Kaduna bomb scare: Nathaniel Samuel is a Christian, not Muslim – Suspect’s father

The father of Nathaniel Samuel, the young man who was arrested for allegedly trying to bomb a Living Faith Church in Kaduna, Mr Samuel Ezekiel, has confirmed that his son is a Christian, and not a Muslim as being speculated on social media.

It could be recalled that the identity of the arrested would-be bomber had generated uproar across the country as many disputed his name and religion.

Our reporter who visited the suspect’s house at Marabar Demishi village located few kilometres from Maraban ‎Rido in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state met his father, Samuel Ezekiel, a Jarawa by tribe from Bauchi state, alongside‎ the Kaduna state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Joseph Hayab.

He also said Nathaniel was born in 1991 and schooled in the state, adding that his mother was from Nasarawa state even though she no longer live with them.

Mr Ezekiel told Daily Trust that his son has been a Christian and not a Muslim even for a single day.

Asked if his son bears Mohammed Sani as being speculated, he said, “No! Not even for a single day has he been a Muslim.”

Mr Ezekiel also said he was shocked when he was told that his son carried a bomb into a church because he wondered what would have happened to the lives of people in the church.

“If he was alone, I don’t care but for the lives that are in the church, I begin to wonder. I shed tears,” he told our reporter.

Also speaking with Daily Trust, Reverend Hayab Joseph said he knew the father of the suspect for many years, noting that it’s just that he didn’t know that Nathaniel was the son of Mr. Ezekiel until he visited the house.

He said CAN is not concerned about Nathaniel’s name or religion but the act of criminality that he would have committed which should be addressed.

He also expressed disappointment over the failure of the Police to do a thorough check on the suspect’s background, saying that would have saved Nigerians a lot of stress on the identity of the suspect.