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‘Nigerian Taliban’ Bombings Kill Dozens in Christmas Day Church Attacks

Nigerian Taliban Bombings Kill Dozens in Christmas Day Church Attacks

AP

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — An explosion ripped through a Catholic church during Christmas Mass near Nigeria’s capital Sunday, killing at least 25 people there, officials said. A radical Muslim sect claimed the attack and another bombing near a church in the restive city of Jos, as explosions also struck the nation’s northeast.

The Christmas Day attacks show the growing national ambition of the sect known as Boko Haram — dubbed the “Nigerian Taliban” — which is responsible for at least 495 killings this year alone, according to an Associated Press count. The assaults come a year after a series of Christmas Eve bombings in Jos claimed by the militants left at least 32 dead and 74 wounded.

The first explosion on Sunday struck St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, a town in Niger state close to the capital, Abuja, authorities said. Rescue workers recovered at least 25 bodies from the church and officials continued to tally those wounded in various hospitals, said Slaku Luguard, a coordinator with Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency.

His agency already has acknowledged it didn’t have enough ambulances immediately on hand to help the wounded. Luguard also said an angry crowd that gathered at the blast site hampered rescue efforts as they refused to allow workers inside.

“We’re trying to calm the situation,” Luguard said. “There are some angry people around trying to cause problems.”

In Jos, a second explosion struck near a Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, government spokesman Pam Ayuba said. Ayuba said gunmen later opened fire on police guarding the area, killing one police officer. Two other locally made explosives were found in a nearby building and disarmed, he said.

“The military are here on ground and have taken control over the entire place,” Ayuba said.

Nigerian Taliban Bombings Kill Dozens in Christmas Day Church Attacks

AP

The city of Jos is located on the dividing line between Nigeria’s predominantly Christian south and Muslim north. Thousands have died in communal clashes there over the last decade.

After the bombings, a Boko Haram spokesman using the nom de guerre Abul-Qaqa claimed responsibility for the attacks in an interview with The Daily Trust, the newspaper of record across Nigeria’s Muslim north. The sect has used the newspaper in the past to communicate with public.

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja had issued a warning Friday to citizens to be “particularly vigilant” around churches, large crowds and areas where foreigners congregate.

Several days of fighting in and around the northeastern city of Damaturu between the sect and security forces already had killed at least 61 people, authorities said.

On Sunday, local police commissioner Tanko Lawan said several explosions had struck Damaturu, including a suicide car bombing. Lawan said that the blasts happened around noon, targeting the headquarters of Nigeria’s secret police, the State Security Service, in the area.

The State Security Service later issued a statement saying the bomber targeted a senior military commander and killed three officers in the attack.

In the last year, Boko Haram has carried out increasingly bloody attacks in its campaign to implement strict Shariah law across Nigeria, a nation of more than 160 million people.

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a Nov. 4 attack on Damaturu, Yobe state’s capital, that killed more than 100 people. The group also claimed the Aug. 24 suicide car bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Nigeria’s capital that killed 24 people and wounded 116 others.

The sect came to national prominence in 2009, when its members rioted and burned police stations near its base of Maiduguri, a dusty northeastern city on the cusp of the Sahara Desert. Nigeria’s military violently put down the attack, crushing the sect’s mosque into shards as its leader was arrested and died in police custody. About 700 people died during the violence.

While initially targeting enemies via hit-and-run assassinations from the back of motorbikes after the 2009 riot, violence by Boko Haram now has a new sophistication and apparent planning that includes high-profile attacks with greater casualties.

Boko Haram has splintered into three factions, with one wing increasingly willing to kill as it maintains contact with terror groups in North Africa and Somalia, diplomats and security sources say.

Sect members are scattered throughout northern Nigeria and nearby Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Comments (109)

  • THE COMING
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:51am

    This is the religion of peace. Though we know how Satan has deceived the people with Islam we must pray that their eye’s will be opened. Being raised a Muslim many know nothing else, and I am afraid it is going to get much worse, both in foreign lands and here in America as well. Our freedom of religion was once one of our greatest strength’s, but has now become our greatest weakness. On this Christmas Day, let us all pray not only for the victims, but also for those that have been deceived by Islam. And MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, may the days ahead bring you many blessings. And thank you Glenn, for all you do, and as Red Skelton used to say at the end of each show, MAY GOD BLESS!

    Report Post »  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:48am

    When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.

    Revelation chapter 6

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
    • scuba13
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:12pm

      Hey look, more “workplace violence”,

      Report Post » scuba13  
    • ltb
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:38am

      The following was taken from Hal Lindsey’s program (“The Hal Lindsey Report”) and is a step by step analysis of what happens when nations submit to Islam. Remember, the goal of Islam is a world where EVERYONE is a Muslim. When Muslims talk about Islam being a religion of peace, they mean that peace on earth will be achieved when EVERYONE is a Muslim.

      1) As long as the Muslim population stays under 2% in any given country, it will be for the most part regarded as peace-loving (e.g., U.S., Australia, Italy, China, Norway, Canada).

      2) When the Muslim population reaches between 2% to 5% of the total population, Muslims begin to proselytize to other ethnic minorities, disaffected groups, prison inmates and street gang members (e.g., Denmark, U.K., Germany, Spain).

      continued…

      Report Post » ltb  
    • ltb
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:39am

      …continued

      3) Once Muslims comprise at least 5% of a nation’s total population, they exercise an influence disproportionate to their actual numbers, which can be seen in countries where Muslims threaten violence against supermarket chains that do not carry halal food (e.g., France, Switzerland, Philippines, Sweden).

      4) When the Muslim minority approaches 10% of the population, they begin to utilize violent demonstrations as a means of securing their demands and riot in response to perceived offenses against Islam (e.g., the Netherlands).

      5) After the Muslim populations reaches 20%, nations can expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killing, burnings of Christian churches and destruction of Jewish synagogues (e.g., Ethiopia).

      continued…

      Report Post » ltb  
    • ltb
      Posted on December 27, 2011 at 11:41am

      …continued

      6) At 40%, nations may expect wide-spread massacres, chronic terror attacks, and ongoing militia warfare (e.g., Bosnia, Chad, Lebanon).

      7) When the Muslim population reaches 60%, nations experience unfettered persecutions of infidels (i.e., non-Muslim) through ethnic-cleansing, genocide and the use of sharia law as a weapon (e.g, Malaysia, Albania, Qatar, the Sudan).

      8) At 80%, a nation’s citizen can expect daily intimidation, violent jihad and state-run ethnic cleansing/genocide, as these nations drive out the infidels and move toward the goal of a 100% Muslim population (e.g., Egypt, Gaza, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates).

      9) When a nation achieves the Islamic goal of a 100% Muslim population, it ushers in Dar al Salaam, which means “the House of Peace.” The reason there’s supposed to be peace in these nations is because everybody is a Muslim. In countries like Afghanistan where Dar al Salaam has been achieved, orthodox Muslims (e.g., the Taliban) rule over fellow Muslims with an iron fist and order is maintained through the specter of public executions, beatings, mutilations and stonings.

      Report Post » ltb  
  • Longslide7
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:36am

    Religion of peace my a**

    Report Post »  
    • red_white_blue2
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:48am

      More like they can shove it up their ass! Oh, and if we let Hamas over the Mexican border–this will be us too. I say we blow them off the planet now and ride the world of a sorry excuse for a religion!

      Report Post » red_white_blue2  
    • lukerw
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 1:09pm

      Who told you that?

      Islam is a Theocracy… of Conquest!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • AirtechJr
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:40pm

      “They are not our enemy, per se” Biden… Wow, what a dolt.

      Report Post » AirtechJr  
    • calmandsense
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 7:44pm

      Don’t you understand? It is a religion of Piece!!

      Report Post »  
    • ghostsouls
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:33pm

      @longslide7 Well that is what obama and the rest of the bleeding heart liberals would have everyone believe. Although I saw a story that obama condemned the Taliban’s attack in NIgeria, yet he won’t condemn the Taliban, Hezbolah, Hamas, Al Queda, Muslim Brotherhood, or Iran for the violence they play on Israel… go figure!!

      Report Post » ghostsouls  
    • UrsaMajor
      Posted on December 26, 2011 at 1:59pm

      It.s okay, people. Ron Paul sez radical Islamic terrorists aren’t a threat to anybody. We just need to trade with them and they’ll love everyone!

      Report Post »  
  • jnobfan
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:21am

    Exactly the kind of problem the U.N. was supposed to take care of. Where is the U.N.?
    Oh they are trying to figure out how to extract tax dollars out of the U.S. with BS global warming instead of what they are supposed to be doing again.
    Kick them out

    Report Post »  
    • Highland
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 1:23pm

      The UN has been too busy harassing Orthodox Christians in the Balkans (while supporting the Islamic gun running Albanians).

      Report Post » Highland  
  • Free2speakRN
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:14am

    Where has BO been on all the killing of Christians? How much does he oppose it? We are certainly in the way of his agenda. Why do I have to hear about it on EWTN? Even FOX doesn’t talk enough about it. Christianity is the main force against Sharia Law. The left is too dumb and numb to see it. Rosie O’donnell(sp?), I rest my case. Hey Rosie, Hey Rosie??!! We are for protecting you. Evengelicals are NOT as bad as Radical Muslim Extremists!!! Hello Rosie!! We also do not want to die. Hello….You there?!

    GK Chesterton said, “People say that religious faith has caused too much war. I say that religious faith is probably the best reason for a war. It is in ‘one’s faith‘ that lies one’s very deepest beliefs of what is right or wrong.”

    Christianity is certainly stronger than the ‘Sleeping Left’ against Sharia Law. Many secularists will embrace the Islam Extreme, if it meant their head.

    Report Post »  
  • handykeith29
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:03am

    Joe Biden: “ the taliban are not our enemy per se”

    Report Post »  
    • destrecht
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 1:35pm

      Maybe it‘s because he knows he’s not really a christian.

      Report Post »  
    • Drakkhanlord
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:24pm

      AL CIA DA , TALI FED were both created and funded by the US govt and the UN…
      What …? nobody was alive during the 1970‘s and 80’s…?
      Do some research , the truth is out there …

      Report Post » Drakkhanlord  
  • barber2
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:50am

    Just read that Boko Haram thinks ” western education is a sin…they are against wearing pants, shirts, science, voting in elections ” and the remaining Muslim forbidden s. Sound like a real “advanced” group, no ? Think we are dealing with a Dark Age virus which must be destroyed if mankind’s advancement is to survive. Am sure that their good buddies in the Arab Spring will end in a “ flourishing” of democracy since the strict Muslims that ” that voting in elections is a sin ! ” WAKE UP, CLUELESS LEFTIES ! ( and can well imagine how our Western activist gays/ lesbians will fare ! )

    Report Post »  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:35am

    All in the name of God. How does He stand it? No wonder the earth needs cleansing, hatred sucks the soul right out of the earth. Those who do evil (and say it’s in His name) will pay the ultimate price. We all better get ready, the times of trial are here.

    Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:22am

    Merry Christmas from Mohammed ?

    Report Post »  
  • ssingh1515
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:39am

    Muslim terrorists spreading violence in Africa; no peace at all.

    Report Post » ssingh1515  
  • CONNIPTION FITZ
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:15am

    So far, in today’s atrocities by the nation of Islam – there were THREE church bombings in Nigeria and a suicide bombing at a funeral in Afganistan.

    Where this religion from the pit of hell is allowed, there is no peace even among its practitioners.

    99% of foreign terrorist groups listed by the US State Department are Islamic groups. They are constantly morphing and changing into new groups. It is a pandemic.
    http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm

    Report Post »  
    • bhohater
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:47am

      Muslims were a heathen people who were beyond redemption even before they were called Muslims. That’s why God commanded Moses to kill them all. Too bad he failed.

      Report Post » bhohater  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:21am

      @BHOHATER I wasn’t aware that God had commanded Moses to kill them..but I know that he commanded King Saul to kill them all ..men, women, children and not even to leave their animals alive..but Saul thought he knew better than God..now skipping forward..the Vatican of that era wanted Jerusalem for itself and enlisted Mohammads future wife and cousin to “help” Mohammad with his “visions” thereby raising up a saviour for the Muslim people. The Pope’s goals 1 To kill all Christians and Jews (which they did) 2 protection of Augustinian monks and Roman Catholics and 3 to take Jerusalem as for the Vatican City..that was the only one they renigged on ,saving Jerusalem for themselves and swithching out the story of Abraham’s willing sacrifice of Issac to God for Ishmaels..which never occured and thereby naming the Dome of the Rock in it’s place.. then when Islam the mighty army that the Pope had raised wanted Europe.. the Pope raised his own army to fight them back killing millions of Christians and burning millions of bibles to keep the truth from the Catholics and the Muslims. Then when Islam ran short of manpower and after taking Portugal and wanting Italy or Spain negotiated with St Francis of Cisissi for each to have Mosques and Catholic Churches in each other’s countries without fear of being attacked, That is what still exists today. The Vatican has been trying to join all religions of the world and is trying to lay hands on Jerusalem now.. http://www.israelnationaln

      Report Post »  
    • AB5r
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:57pm

      Bio, the Canaanites were killed, but they had nothing to do with Islam. Moses didn’t enter Arabia. Muhammad just made up all of the crap in the Koran about bible characters, he had nothing to do with any of them in reality. Muhammad was an insane Arab who made up a crazy religion, it has nothing to do with the God of the Bible or the Jews or Christians other than that it is the enemy of them having been inspired by Satan. Allah of the Koran is Satan of the Bible. Enter – moses in arabia site:bible.ca – in google and there are a lot of articles there about the history.

      Report Post » AB5r  
  • votingusmcvet
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:14am

    Islam the religion of WHAT PIECE can we remove from you for not following our ways. Islam the religion of WHAT PIECE of stone will take your life if you have been raped.
    Islam the religion of WHAT PIECE of your children is available for perv ersion today.
    Islam the religion of WHAT PIECE of your society can we destroy.

    Report Post »  
  • mikenleeds
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:13am

    those good ole loving muslin terrorist are at it again

    Report Post » mikenleeds  
  • c.foster4722
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:08am

    Its no mistake! join or dye. Islam is not a religon its a cult. They should be rounded up and sent back to the middle east where thay came from. Thay want to kill then let them kill their own.

    Report Post »  
  • votingusmcvet
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:07am

    Islam the religion of control, something like the progressive agenda. Both of their idea’s of peace are the elimination of anyone and anything that does not agree with them. The religion that 0zero has declared he will not harm, the one he bows down to. But the left propaganda machine will declare that it was the Christians that brought it against themselves.

    Christians the only religion that welcomes all regardless of their religion. Christians the foundation that teaches people how to fish and that it is the right thing to do to be responsible for your own actions. Christians the only religion that teaches to love one another NOT ki11, maim, hate, and destroy all who are different.

    Report Post »  
  • mramise
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:00am

    This is an educational training example imploring everyone to become a member of the religion of peace…………

    Report Post »  
  • getourcountryback
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:56am

    And these are the “people” that leaders in our current administration think they can work with????? We need to makes sure that BHO is defeated in 2012 and batten down the hatches.

    Report Post »  
  • mramise
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:53am

    Move along nothingt to see here other than the true face of iislaaam………

    Report Post »  
  • mramise
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:50am

    The religion of peace is at it again as it has since the brief system has been founded. As we can tell media arm of the religion of peace it not sure who is did the attack, which is propaganda emanating from the religion of peace.

    Report Post »  
  • BONETRAUMA
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:47am

    Peaceful religion. Nothing to see here.

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:45am

    Soon enough Obama will allow his radical allies to do the same here at home; especially say at the voting locations along with the other usual intimidation tactics of armed gangs and his personal thugs via the unions.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Highland
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 1:24pm

      Remember, Eric Holder promised he‘d never prosecute a black for violating anyone’s rights.

      Report Post » Highland  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:41am

    It‘s not the ’religion of peace’, even if you’re part of it. If they’re not killing infidels, then they kill one another. It’s their hobby.

    Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
  • poverty.sucks
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:39am

    Remember, per Biden, it‘s not the Taliban we’re at war with, Islam reminds us who the real enemy is.

    Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • Love_John_Galt
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:39am

      Apparently you can say ‘tea-ba88er’ on the blaze, but the president can use the term in a hand written letter.. Too Funny!!

      Report Post » Love_John_Galt  
  • singleparent
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:33am

    we need to start standing up soon or this will happen here..screw africa…

    Report Post »  
    • dwh320
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:45am

      To late… it is here already but just in a more destructive form. It’s called the Obama Administration.

      Report Post » dwh320  
    • Love_John_Galt
      Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:47am

      Did anyone see the news piece featuring Obama’s handwritten letter responding to a citizen that questioned his negative slant towards Republican’s… and he used the term ‘*********’ while claiming he wasn’t being negative? The media (CNN?) didn’t even notice it when they read it on TV.

      I find it curious that this is not being covered anywhere.

      Report Post » Love_John_Galt  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:28am

    Oh no, muslims pigs wouldn”t do this this has to be a mistake

    Report Post »  

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