Nigeria bombings: Boko Haram
claims responsibility
Zeenews Bureau
Maiduguri: A radical Islamist sect on Monday
claimed responsibility for suicide bomb
attacks that left at least 36 people dead in
northern Nigeria on Sunday.
The group, known as Boko Haram, made the
announcement in an e-mail statement
received by a news agency on Monday.
Kaduna state authorities have imposed a
24-hour curfew as soldiers and police make
efforts to restore order.
Suicide bombers targeted four churches in a
series of attacks that also prompted reprisal
attacks by Christian youth against local
Muslims. In all, two churches were attacked
in Kaduna city while another two were
bombed in a nearby Zaria city.
In Zaria town, two churches were bombed
as a bomber drove into Christ the King
Catholic Church (CKC), Sabon Gari, and a
similar attack took place at the Evangelical
Church Winning All (ECWA), Wusasa.
Red Cross officials in the city said in a
church located in Zaria town, most of those
killed or wounded were children.
Kaduna state has previously seen attacks by
Boko Haram.
Last Sunday also, the group attacked two
church services, sparking violence which
killed seven people. Hundreds have died in
its previous attacks on churches.
Boko Haram says it wants Islamic sharia law
in place across Nigeria and analysts suggest
it is trying to trigger clashes between
Christians and Muslims.
A country of 150 million people, Nigeria's
population is equally divided between
Christians and Muslims.