Islamists kill dozens in Nigeria Christmas bombings
- 12 years ago
A bomb site in Abuja, Nigeria.
A wave of bomb attacks across the country targeting churches has left at least 27 people dead.
The Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which wants to impose Islamic sharia law across the country, is claiming responsibility for the attacks.
A church priest spoke about the losses
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHURCH PRIEST, PATRICH ACHI, UNNAMED, SAYING:
"Households, entire households gone. The two very close to the front in there - the first ones there - there were five people (in the family). And the people on the (inaudible) were three. All gone."
Nigerian security forces are tracking down suspects, and have deactivated at least two explosive devices.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MILITARY TASK FORCE SPOKESPERSON, CHARLES EZEOCHA, SAYING:
"We lost one policeman, and we have made four arrests. I think it is a headway, and we can use them to get more information and then work on that."
Boko Haram has emerged as the biggest security threat in Nigeria, a country of 160 million split evenly between Christians and Muslims.
Last Christmas Eve, a series of bomb blasts killed 32 people
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
A wave of bomb attacks across the country targeting churches has left at least 27 people dead.
The Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which wants to impose Islamic sharia law across the country, is claiming responsibility for the attacks.
A church priest spoke about the losses
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHURCH PRIEST, PATRICH ACHI, UNNAMED, SAYING:
"Households, entire households gone. The two very close to the front in there - the first ones there - there were five people (in the family). And the people on the (inaudible) were three. All gone."
Nigerian security forces are tracking down suspects, and have deactivated at least two explosive devices.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MILITARY TASK FORCE SPOKESPERSON, CHARLES EZEOCHA, SAYING:
"We lost one policeman, and we have made four arrests. I think it is a headway, and we can use them to get more information and then work on that."
Boko Haram has emerged as the biggest security threat in Nigeria, a country of 160 million split evenly between Christians and Muslims.
Last Christmas Eve, a series of bomb blasts killed 32 people
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters