A day of extremist violence against both
Muslims and Christians in the country killed more
than 60 people, including worshippers in a mosque
who came to hear a cleric known for preaching
about peaceful coexistence of all faiths.
Militants from Boko Haram were blamed for the
bombings Sunday night at a crowded mosque and a
posh Muslim restaurant in the central city of Jos; a
suicide bombing earlier at an evangelical Christian
church in the northeastern city of Potiskum, and
attacks in several northeastern villages where
dozens of churches and about 300 homes were
torched.
In a failed attempt Monday night, a woman wired
with explosives blew up near a mosque in Kano,
Nigeria's second largest city, which has suffered
many bomb blasts that killed hundreds in the past,
according to police Assistant Superintendent Musa
Magaji Majia. There were no other casualties
besides the bomber.
In the latest outbreak of violence, Boko Haram
extremists have killed about 300 people in the past
week — apparently after an order by the self-
proclaimed Islamic State group for more mayhem
during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Earlier
this year, Boko Haram became an affiliate of the
Islamic State group which has proclaimed a
caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria under its control.
It is the worst violence since President Muhammadu
Buhari was elected March 28 vowing to crush the 6-
year-old Islamic uprising that has killed more than
13,000 people.


Buhari has condemned the recent attacks and said
the government will defend Nigerians' right to
worship freely.
The deadliest attack came last Wednesday when
more than 140 people were killed — mostly men and
boys mowed down by gunfire as they prayed in
mosques in the northeastern town of Kukawa.
Burials were held Monday for 51 people killed by the
two bombings a day earlier in Jos, said Muslim
community lawyer Ahmed Garba.
Another 67 people were wounded, according to
Abdussalam Mohammed, the National Emergency
Management Agency coordinator.
The explosion at the Yantaya Mosque came as cleric
Sani Yahaya was addressing the worshippers,
survivors said. Yahaya is the national chairman of
the Jama'atu Izalatul Bidia organization, which
preaches that all religions should peacefully coexist.
Garba said gunmen also opened fire on the mosque
from three directions.
Survivor Danladi Sani said he saw a man dressed in
white take aim at Yahaya, and then blow himself up.
Yahaya was unharmed, Sani added.
"He is a great Islamic scholar who has spoken out
against Boko Haram, and that is why we believe he
was the target," Sani told The Associated Press.
Another bomb exploded at Shagalinku, a restaurant
often patronized by state governors and other top
politicians for its specialties popular with Muslims,
witnesses said.
Sabi'u Bako was picking up a takeout meal when he
heard a massive explosion as he walked away with
friends.
"The restaurant was destroyed, and we saw many
people covered in blood," he said. "We can't believe
that we escaped."
Jos is a hotspot for violent religious confrontations
because it is located in the center of the country
where Nigeria's majority Muslim north meets the
mainly Christian south. The city has been targeted by
bombs claimed by Boko Haram extremists that have
killed hundreds.
Earlier Sunday, a female suicide bomber struck a
crowded service of the Redeemed Christian Church
of God in Potiskum, killing six people, witnesses
said.
Elsewhere in the northeast, extremists killed nine
people and burned down 32 churches and about 300
homes in several villages, said Stephen Apagu,
chairman of a self-defense group in Borno state's
Askira-Uba local government area. He said the
militia killed three militants.
The villages had been attacked three days earlier
and 29 people were killed.
The United States condemned the recent attacks and
said it continues to provide counterterrorism
assistance to Nigeria to "combat the threat posed by
Boko Haram," said a statement Monday from State
Department spokesman John Kirby.
Boko Haram took over a large swath of northeastern
Nigeria last year. A multinational force from Nigeria
and its neighbors forced the militants out of many
towns, but bombings and village attacks have
increased in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, the military freed 180 detainees who had
been held for up to two years, accused of being
Boko Haram members. Those freed Monday
included women with babies and toddlers.

Source:- www.m.news24.com/Nigeria/National/News/Day-of-extremist-violence-across-the-country-kills-more-than-60-20150707