CNN
Two Nigeria churches bombed on Christmas Day
By the CNN Wire Staff
December 25, 2011 -- Updated 1151 GMT (1951 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: An eyewitness says there are at least 15 to 16 casualties at a
Catholic church
A second church is bombed hours later in the city of Jos
The blasts follow attacks on five churches in Nigeria during last year's
Christmas season
(CNN) -- Bomb blasts struck two churches in Nigeria on Sunday as worshippers
were attending Christmas Day services, stirring memories of strikes against
Nigerian churches during last year's Christmas season.
The first explosion struck near a Catholic church in Madala, west of the
capital, the National Emergency Management Agency said.
A second explosion struck the Mountain of Fire Ministries church in the city of
Jos, northeast of the capital, said journalist Hassan John, who witnessed the
aftermath of the blast.
The emergency agency did not immediately provide details about the bombings,
including the number of dead or wounded.
But Usman Abdallah Baba, who witnessed the first bombing in Madala, said there
were at least 15 or 16 casualties and that authorities were still counting the
toll.
Christmas Day bomb blast in Nigeria
He said local people were already blaming the violent extremist Muslim Boko
Haram sect, which has targeted Christians as well as Muslims its members
consider insufficiently Islamic.
Sunday's attack follows bombings at five churches in Jos last year that
occurred while residents were celebrating Christmas Eve. The blasts killed
dozens in Jos, which lies on a faith-based fault line between the
Muslim-dominated north and the mainly Christian south.
Nigeria has the world's sixth largest Christian population -- about 80.5
million people as of 2010, according to a report published this month by the
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life in Washington.
That makes the country just under 51% Christian.
The latest attacks follow two days of clashes between militants and security
forces in northern Nigeria, an army commander said.
Chief of Army Staff Azubuike Ihejirika said the clashes left three soldiers
dead and several more wounded.
The fighting began Thursday between Boko Haram militants and the military in
the Yobe state town of Damaturu, Ihejirika said.
"There was a major encounter with the Boko Haram in Damaturu," Ihejirika said
Friday. "We lost three of our soldiers, seven were wounded. But we killed over
50 of their members."
Boko Haram translates from the local Hausa as "Western education is outlawed."
The group has morphed into an insurgency responsible for dozens of attacks in
Nigeria in the last two years.
Boko Haram's targets include police outposts and churches as well as places
associated with "Western influence."
CNN's Esprit Smith contributed to this report.
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ihateyu4real
Best thing other parts of Nigeria will all have to break up from those
filthy rtards Aliens rejected Northerners...Merry X mas people and mad love frm
B
2 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
cnnmrcnn
Of course there is not a word of condemnation about this and all past
attacks on Christians from Pakistan military, whose "veritable arm", the Al
Quaida mujahedin and "their veritable fingers", the "boko haram" is responsible
for this senseless attack on unarmed civilians.
7 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
realitycnn
These killings are unconscionable, and should serve as a reminder why the
LAST thing the U.S. needs is a Religious Fanatic for President. All religious
people are NOT fanatics (and as a Christian I am not a fanatic), but many
fanatics are dangerous religious people trying to control people`s lives ...
more
8 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
IslamicWar
MUSLIMS STRIKE AGAIN on behalf of their Satanic "God".
What a peaceful "CULT" Islam is.
God bless the Christians over there, and may ALL those radicalized violent
cavemen Muslims be strucken down with a serious, fast-moving fatal illness.
Wipe them out and clean up the world.
14 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
jubril
If you could read "extremist Muslim Boko Haram sect, which has targeted
Christians as well as Muslims its members". fanatics are the problem, there are
also christian fanatics by the way like that European guy who killed two
hundred and something people
5 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
radidteer
Good morning Vietnam. Nothing changes.
Happy New Year.
15 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
gonziiii
its quite sad, I hear that they are killing hausa's in the of warri,
Nigeria right now, Nigeria is in trouble
17 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
PreppyPep
As everyone agrees, Islam is is outdated. I am really pity of muslims who
are who beacme violent and barbaric due to reading of Quran. Their only hope is
to convert to other religion of their choice. To me, being a Christian is an
ideal choice. I am convinced other religions (except Christian) disl... more
21 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
PreppyPep
We need to forget the past and move ahead.
0 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
PreppyPep
Christian religion evolved with time and adapted to the needs of modern
time today. The Islam. since it's birth remained stagnant and never changed
with time. The Quran is to take blame for this.
2 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
jubril
Every religion is right. Thats the problem with christianity you keep
pushing your religion as the only right one, even though all of you have
different beliefs and bible
3 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
leoBr
So why being Christian is "an ideal choice"? Because Christians burned
heretics alive for centuries (up until 1836)?Islam is 600 years younger, maybe
they grow up by the year 2600. Although, obviously fundamental Islam - which
lied dormant for centuries - attracts the dumbest and worst scum of the h...
more
6 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
PreppyPep
Sorry. There is no choice. You can conver to Christian only. Other major
religions like Budhhism and Hindus don't like you.
14 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
ebubec
It's rather unfortunate that in this modern age, people still slather
innocent women and children in the name of fighting q cause. If Boko Haram
really believes that western education is wrong, why do they use fire arms and
explosives that are manufactured from processes developed through education....
more
26 minutes ago | Like (4) | Report abuse
Garrido
If it were only that easy but human instinct is self preservation no matter
what so in the end irrational people will fight in a way that will not harm
them but kill their self perceived enemies. I blame the women of the religion
of any religion that allows oppression,and killing of innocence. Wome... more
17 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
PreppyPep
Argument with Muslims is futile. They are backwards. Even so called
educated Muslims are backwards. They need to covert to Christain religion. That
is the only hope for poor and backward muslims.
18 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
Garrido
Serious any sensible person or persons would disavow any association with
extremist from any group. Come on people of the world wake up and start
respecting each other, if the Christan's start bombing mosques then we would
here rings of inquisition. Seriously what group with any form of civility na...
more
35 minutes ago | Like (3) | Report abuse
stevemann
Merry Christmas from the Islamists of Nigeria to the Catholics of Nigeria-
"May your Chrismas go down a BOMB".
And still the appeasers in the West and the Lefties in the West cant see
whts under their noses.
37 minutes ago | Like (3) | Report abuse
leoBr
And what is that the "righties" see under their nose that lefties don't see?
How come that the "righties" dramatically increased terrorism and Islamic
influence in the world by destroying secular Iraq where Hussein, while being
ruthless dictator, kept all those lunatics under control?
19 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
mirrorlimo11
ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE, PEACE AND PEACE. THOSE MUSLIMS THAT MURDER
JUST BELIEVE THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM TOO MUCH.
39 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
Naynah
this is a wake up call (but really for what?) well i don't get how this has
to do with civilization of Africa. America is as equally violent with their
state of the art weaponry. are we now establishing the point that violence
committed with finesse and state of the art weapons are permitted? may th...
more
41 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
mirrorlimo11
Thanks Naynah. I'm glad u know that America is a NATION who prides itself
in establishing freedom thru peace or sword. And that Islam is a religion of
PEACE which MURDERS to bring peace. Call a spade a spade. Islam is evil. Simple!
34 minutes ago | Like (3) | Report abuse
mrbobo
not big suprise here.....islam........the only religion that celebrates
death rather than life, is at it again..killing and murdering innocent
men,women, and children in the name of Allah. Killing is in their DNA...if you
want to be in the club then would best start killing the infidels
44 minutes ago | Like (3) | Report abuse
kkateonos
I keep on saying that the forcefull marriage between the south and north
will not work.In nigeria we suffer for corruption as this is not enough, now
the religion of their stupid ALLAH called muslims in the North are killing the
Christians with boom sponsored by our leaders.
47 minutes ago | Like (3) | Report abuse
realist50
Christmas morning and a quick check reveals people can't stop the hating
for even a few hours......
(i thought christians had a "turn the other cheek" rule?.........priceless)
1 hour ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
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