MAIDUGURI/JOS, Nigeria, (Reuters) – Islamist militants attacked two churches in Nigeria yesterday, spraying the congregation of one with bullets, killing at least one person, and blowing up a car in a suicide bombing at the other, wounding 41, witnesses and police said.
No one was killed by the car bombing in the central city of Jos, but youths attacked bystanders in retaliation, killing two, police said.
Islamist group Boko Haram’s spokesman Abu Qaqa claimed responsibility for both attacks. “Yes, we did both and we will continue until we achieve our goal,” he told reporters in a conference call in Maiduguri, the sect’s homebase, declining further questions.
Boko Haram has linked up with other Islamist groups in the region including al Qaeda’s north African wing and has become the biggest security threat in Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and member of OPEC.
Attacks on churches have become a trademark tactic of Boko Haram, which says it is fighting to reinstate an ancient Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria.
“Three gunmen came to the premises of the church and started firing at people outside the church before going into the main building to carry on their killings,” said Hamidu Wakawa who was at the church in Biu Town in northeastern Borno state when it was attacked.
“Many people have been killed and wounded,” he said.
The police spokesman for Borno state, Samuel Tizhe, said five gunmen attacked the church, killing one woman and wounding three other people, before they fled.
