Suicide bombing at Barracks Church; anti-Christian riots in Nigeria

At least 11 people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a church inside a military barracks in Kaduna state, while elsewhere in Nigeria, an allegation of blasphemy prompted anti-Christian riots.

The Nigerian military said the church attack was "an embarrassment"

Nigeria, November 27, 2012: The attack on St Andrew’s Protestant Church in Jaji happened around midday on Sunday (25 November) during a service.

First, a bus was driven into the wall of the church building and exploded; around ten minutes later, a car blew up outside the church.

A military spokesman said:

The first blast caused no casualties and curious worshippers gathered around the scene looking at the debris … and that was when the second blast happened.

It appears that the vehicles were driven into the barracks through the bush to evade the military checkpoints. The spokesman said that the incident was “surprising and an embarrassment”.

Officials said that 11 people were killed and 30 were injured, but several witnesses at the scene put the death toll at around 50.

Militant Islamist group Boko Haram is suspected of carrying out the atrocity.

Christians in Kaduna state, which is in central Northern Nigeria, have previously been targeted. At least seven people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a church in the Malali neighbourhood during a service on 28 October.

Blasphemy accusation

Christians have also come under attack by Muslims in the town of Bichi in Kano state. Violence was sparked by an accusation of blasphemy against a non-native Christian tailor, Chibuke, who accidentally mispronounced the name for a popular outfit while talking with a Muslim neighbour; he inadvertently said, “the prophet has come to the market”.

Muslims accused Chibuke of deliberately blaspheming against Islam and launched a violent response. Armed with cutlasses, knives and other weapons, they rampaged through the town, attacking Christians and their property.

Residents said that four Christians, including Chibuke, were killed, although only two deaths have been officially confirmed.

Seven churches, eight shops and a house were torched.

Kano police have arrested 22 suspects in connection with the violence.

– barnabas team