Nigeria Christmas Violence Death Toll Rises to 80
Tue, Dec. 28, 2010 Posted: 12:06 PM EDT
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The death toll for the Christmas Eve bombings in central Nigeria and the
Christian-Muslim clash that ensued has risen to at least 80 people, and is
expected to continue to increase.
Police initially said 32 people were killed in the coordinated bomb
explosions in Jos on Christmas Eve. But late Monday the update for the death
toll
was at least 80 if counting those killed in the connected conflict between
Muslim and Christian youths on Sunday in central Nigeria. Another 100 people
were wounded and are in the hospital, causing expectation that the death toll
will continue to rise.
On Christmas Eve, two bombs exploded near a busy market where people were
Christmas shopping in Jos, the capital of Plateau state. Another blast
occurred in a predominantly Christian neighborhood and a fourth bomb exploded
near
a road leading to the main mosque in Jos.
Sectarian violence is nothing new to residents of Jos, who earlier this
year endured a massacre that left more than 500 people dead. Jos lies in the
middle of Nigeria, where the Muslim north meets the mainly Christian south.
Although many conflicts in this middle area are described as sectarian, the
clashes are usually more so about competition for fertile ground than about
religion.
Local police have arrested two suspects in connection to the explosions
Monday and are patrolling the city and surrounding area to prevent further
conflicts. Previously, bomb attacks have not been used in religious and ethnic
violence in the area.
The radical Muslim group Boko Haram, which has a history of violence
against Christians, has claimed responsibility for the bombings in Jos and the
church attacks in the northern town of Maiduguri. Also on Christmas Eve, armed
men attacked two churches killing six people, including a church pastor and
two men rehearsing for the carol service.
Authorities have tried to crush Boko Haram, which has also assassinated
police and local leaders, by destroying its mosque and arresting its leader.
However, after a time of no activity, the group appears to be reviving.
After this past weekend's violence, Boko Haram threatened more attacks on
"disbelievers" and "their allies," according to The Associated Press.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the south, vows that
the government will "go to the root" of the recent Christmas Eve attacks.
"We must unearth what caused it and those behind it must be brought to
book," said Jonathan.
Ethan Cole
Christian Post Reporter
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