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Nigeria: Gunmen attack churches Nigeria violence: Seven dead after Boko Haram attacks
(about 6 hours later)
Gunmen in Nigeria have attacked two churches during Sunday services, killing and wounding worshippers. Boko Haram militants have attacked two churches during Sunday services, triggering deadly reprisal attacks.
In the central city of Jos, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a church, killing at least two people and wounding dozens more. In the central city of Jos, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a church, wounding at least 50 people.
Five gunmen opened fire in Biu in Borno state, killing one woman and injuring three other people. In a separate attack, gunmen opened fire during a service in Biu in northeastern Borno state, leaving at least one person dead.
No-one has admitted the latest attacks, but radical Islamic sect Boko Haram has targeted churches before. Six people were then killed in Jos in reprisals when angry demonstrators took to the streets in protest.
One witness at the church in Biu said that "gunmen came to the premises of the church and started firing at people outside the church before going into the main building to carry on their killings", Reuters news agency reported. Radical Islamist sect Boko Haram said it carried out the attacks. The group has carried out a number of attacks on churches in recent years, killing hundreds of people.
"Many people have been killed and wounded," witness Hamidu Wakawa was quoted as saying. One witness at the church in Biu, Hamidu Wakawa, said that "gunmen came to the premises of the church and started firing at people outside the church before going into the main building to carry on their killings", Reuters reported.
In a country already divided along religious lines these attacks have the potential to trigger further clashes between Muslims and Christians. The Islamist militant group Boko Haram has admitted carrying out past attacks on churches. They said these were in revenge for killings of Muslims in central Nigeria during previous bouts of violence. Officials said one woman had been killed and at least three wounded.
In a country already divided along religious lines these attacks have the potential to trigger further clashes between Muslims and Christians.
The Islamist militant group Boko Haram has admitted carrying out past attacks on churches. They said these were in revenge for killings of Muslims in central Nigeria during previous bouts of violence.
Boko Haram says it wants to impose Sharia law across Nigeria. A recent statement from the group rejected the idea of peace talks with the government and vowed to increase the attacks.Boko Haram says it wants to impose Sharia law across Nigeria. A recent statement from the group rejected the idea of peace talks with the government and vowed to increase the attacks.
Moments after the suicide bombing in Jos, Christian youths set up roadblocks and had to be dispersed by police, according to one witness. In Jos, police said the attacker had driven as close to the church as he could before detonating himself.
"Angry youths have gone wild, even attempting to prevent the security personnel from getting to the scene of the incident. They had to force their way out by shooting in the air to disperse them," Emmanuel Davou was quoted by Reuters as saying. "The suicide bomber did not drive into the church before the explosion. He was in front of it," police spokesman Abuh Emmanuel told Reuters.
The explosion killed at least two worshippers and the suicide bomber, while wounding more than 40 others. "The church building collapsed entirely due to the intensity of the bombing."
But government sources feared "scores" may have died, according to news agency AFP. Moments after the bombing, Christian youths set up roadblocks and had to be dispersed by police, according to one witness.
Boko Haram has carried out numerous attacks in northern Nigeria, killing hundreds of people since 2009. "Angry youths have gone wild, even attempting to prevent the security personnel from getting to the scene of the incident. They had to force their way out by shooting in the air to disperse them," Emmanuel Davou was quoted as saying.
The Red Cross later said demonstrators killed six people.
Boko Haram has carried out numerous attacks on churches, schools, police stations and government buildings in northern Nigeria, and is said to be continually widening its targets.
The group - whose name means "No to Western education" - wants to impose Sharia law across Nigeria.The group - whose name means "No to Western education" - wants to impose Sharia law across Nigeria.
It has targeted churches, schools, police stations, and other government buildings.
The group has said it was behind the suicide bombing of a church last weekend which left at least 12 people dead in Bauchi City.The group has said it was behind the suicide bombing of a church last weekend which left at least 12 people dead in Bauchi City.
The state of Borno has been Boko Haram's base. The group's mosque and headquarters had been located in Maiduguri, the state capital, until a military assault in 2009 destroyed them and left hundreds dead.