39 die in Nigeria sectarian attacks

Posted on | december 26, 2011 | No Comments

Nigeria

Death toll rose to 39 Sunday after bomb exploded at a Catholic Church in Nigeria’s town of Madalla in Niger state just as another church bombing and two suicide attacks were witnessed in other northern cities. The explosion at St. Thesera’s Catholic occurred after a Mass to celebrate Christmas while the second church bombing took place in a Mountain of Fire church in central city of Jos where constant clashes have taken place between Muslims and Christians. Also on Sunday, police in cities of Damaturu in Yobe state and Maiduguri in Borno state said the number of wounded are still being counted as a suicide bomber attacked the two restive cities.

The carnage in Madalla left at least 17 cars damaged by the bomb which killed those who queued up to drive or board commercial vehicles to their homes. The increase in number of deaths from an initial 25 came as more died in hospitals where they were taken to for medical attention. The owners of these vehicles queued up to drive home after the early morning mass where the message of love, peace and joy was delivered to herald the Feast of Nativity. Sadly, what we met was this ugly situation.” the pastor of the church, Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi said.

One of the victims was found on the roof of the church while several dead bodies were littered in gutters and other parts of the premises. “The victims have been moved to different hospitals but at St. Lucas hospital, nine of my parishioners were recorded dead. At Diamond Hospital, a little baby of 5 years who was injured could not locate his parents.” Achi said adding that some other victims were commercial vehicle operators who came in to pick passengers home.

Angry youths gathered to protest after the attack but were dispersed by the police. The explosion in Jos killed a police officer and while three vehicles were destroyed. The spokesman for Islamic radical sect, Boko Haram, Abu Qaqa claimed responsibility for the attacks. “The officers of Search and Rescue Team of NEMA in collaboration with stakeholders have evacuated at least 10 dead bodies from the explosion scene at Madalla to hospitals.” Spokesman for he National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Yushua Shuaib said that the evacuation exercise was still going on and military men were also involved. In Yobe state, the police commissioner, Mr. Tanko Lawan said a suicide attacker targeted the headquarters of the oil rich African country’s secret police, State Security Service (SSS).

Boko Haram sect, which wants to install an Islamic government, has been waging war on Nigeria state in its quest to fulfil its ambition but the Nigerian military also battles them especially in their northern stronghold. More than 100 people mostly their members were killed last week when the army engaged them in gun battles in Damaturu, Maiduguri and Potiskum. Nigeria is a circular state with Muslims and Christians having equal share of the 150 million people in the country. Boko Haram also claimed responsibility for several bombings and shootings in the north and capital city of Abuja. A suicide bomb attack by the group at the United Nations headquarters in July killed 26 persons and injured more than 70. The group’s leader, Muhammed Yusuf was killed in 2006 during an insurrection which claimed more than 800 lives.

AUTHOR: Paul Ohia
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