World

Suicide Bomber Attacks Nigerian Catholic Church During Mass, At Least 10 Killed

Nigeria

A suicide car bomber attacked a Catholic Church during Mass in Nigeria Sunday, killing at least 10 people. (AP File Photo)

JOS, Nigeria (The Blaze/AP) — A suicide car bomber attacked a Catholic church Sunday in the middle of Mass, killing at least 10 people in the latest violence targeting a church in a central Nigerian city plagued by unrest, a state official said.

The bomb detonated as worshippers attended the final Mass of the day at St. Finbar’s Catholic Church in Jos, a city where thousands have died in the last decade in religious and ethnic violence. Security at the gate of the church’s compound stopped the suspicious car and the bomber detonated his explosives during an altercation that followed, Plateau state spokesman Pam Ayuba said.

The blast damaged the church’s roof, blew out its windows and destroyed a portion of the fence surrounding the church’s compound, Ayuba said. At least 10 people died, Ayuba said, while many others were wounded in the blast, including soldiers who also had been stationed at the church.

“He destroyed so many things,” the spokesman said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility though the city has been targeted in the past by a radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram. The sect claimed a series of bombings in Jos on Christmas Eve in 2010 that killed as many as 80 people. The sect also claimed a similar church bombing on Feb. 26 on the main headquarters of the Church of Christ that killed three people and wounded 38 others.

Suicide Bomber Attacks Nigerian Catholic Church During Mass, 10 Killed

AP File Photo

As The Blaze previously reported, churchgoers clubbed to death a would-be suicide bomber last month after his car bomb failed to kill him.

The sect, which speaks to journalists through telephone conference calls at times of its choosing, could not be immediately reached for comment Sunday.

Jos and surrounding Plateau state have been torn apart in recent years by violence pitting its different ethnic groups and major religions – Christianity and Islam – against each other. Human Rights Watch says at least 1,000 people were killed in communal clashes around Jos in 2010.

The violence, though fractured across religious lines, often has more to do with local politics, economics and rights to grazing lands. Muslims in the city also say they are locked out of lucrative jobs in the region as the Christian-led state government doesn’t recognize them as citizens.

The Catholic church attack also comes after a failed raid Thursday by British and Nigerian commandos left a Briton and an Italian hostage dead in Nigeria’s far northwest. British officials have blamed a splinter cell of Boko Haram for the attack, something a spokesman for the group has denied.

However, the attack has opened a new front on Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with terrorism, showing any region across the nation’s Muslim north can be attacked – and anyone, including foreigners, could be targeted.

Comments (42)

  • dontbotherme
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 7:51pm

    God, please bless the victims of this vicious, satanic attack. Please, Lord, give your comfort to the family & friends of those killed & injured. Please stop the madness God. It is in Your Almighty Hands. The Catholic Church, as well as other Christian denominations is under serious attack. Please, God, protect us.

    Report Post »  
    • PaxInVeritate
      Posted on March 12, 2012 at 4:23am

           “O God of the Most High, we kneel before you to beg for the unification of all your children. In the fight to retain Your Christian Churches on earth, let not our differences divide us at this time of great apostasy in the world. In our love for You, dear Father, we beseech You to give us the graces to love one another in the name of Your Beloved Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ. We adore You. We love You. We unite to fight for the strength to retain Your Christian Churches on earth in the trials we may face in the years ahead. Amen.”

      Report Post » PaxInVeritate  
  • FANGS
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 6:04pm

    Once again Muselums attacking Christians. I suppose Obama will appoligize to the muselums again now.

    Report Post »  
    • ghostsouls
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:26pm

      Yes, those pesky little loving muslims at it again. They say they only attack when they are attacked first and never start it according to their own koran. They have lost all credibility that they are a peaceful loving religion. Ask the parents of the 100 plus teenagers murdered because of their haircuts, ask the parents of all the teenage girls burned to death while being held locked inside because they didn’t have their hair covered, ask the families of all the 3 and 4 year old toddlers married off to 40 year old pedophiles, ask the families of all the women stoned to death for lies told against them or because some man raped them (yet their rapist goes free), ask the parents of the children murdered in the middle of the school day in a school where they should be safe from harm…. if that is religion, they are praying to the devil.

      Report Post » ghostsouls  
  • LogicalMetaphysician
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 3:55pm

    “radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram”, otherwise known as “Islam”.

    Report Post » LogicalMetaphysician  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 2:18pm

    I guess Pelosi is ready to say the Catholic church in Nigeria should have given them free contraceptives and the Muslims wouldn’t have been so angry. Liberal agenda always outweighs any sensible reasoning, right Rose Ellen?…kinda like the Fluke mentality.

    Report Post »  
  • Want our country back
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 1:51pm

    Suicide Bomber Attacks Nigerian Catholic Church During Mass, At Least 10 Killed

    I’m happy to hear that no Korans were burned in error, can you just imagine what would have happened. Oh it is happening….the middle east is on fire

    God bless the people that were killed

    Report Post » Want our country back  
  • jharper
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 1:35pm

    shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….says the media. Ninety teenage boys stoned to death in in Bagdad over the last several days because of their haircuts…..shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….says the media. And remember kids, according to Janet (HLS) there are no such thing as terrorist acts….they are “Man Made Disasters”.

    Report Post »  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 2:58pm

      Obama’s hollow victory in ending the war in Iraq ..Many people in Iraq were grateful to be free of the tyrant ,Saddam Hussaine and want freedom..but like we have done before,we walk away and leave these people to their fate…I fear the killing is just getting started in Iraq as the brotherhood takes back control…Obama will take credit for ending this war while the people who die in Iraq are our allies..

      Report Post »  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 3:10pm

      In the interest of fairness George Bush SR did the same to the Kurds at the end of the first gulf war..I watched in disbelief as he did nothing while Saddam Bombed the Kurds after surrendering to us..

      Report Post »  
  • Leader1776
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 1:19pm

    We know about their Caliphate. We know that (if not all Muslims) a great number are for the overthrow of all people and non-Muslim religions, as-well-as atheists. We know they are not compatible with the drug lords or the left. Finally, we know there are countless people that rock stationary in their seats wringing hands, claiming that these throwbacks to medieval (spelled evil not eval) times will be punished in the after-life. That’s all well and good.

    However, what or who is responsible for actually taking action now to forestall this onslaught? I’d like to allow our children and subsequent generations to enjoy their pursuit of freedom and happiness.

    Report Post » Leader1776  
    • lukerw
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 1:32pm

      Read the Koran… pretend that you are a Muslim… and ask: What does my God want to do, so I can be Holy & Worship him?

      The answer, that I have found, is: Kill the Jews, Convert or Kill all other Unbelievers, in a Holy War, untill all the World is Islam!

      Now, as PeaceFul & Reasonable person… what should you do? Convert? Hide? Pray to your God for Help? Or, maybe, prepare to Fight?

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • COFemale
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 1:13pm

    I DEMAND an apology from all MUSLIMS for this cowardly act. I want the leaders of Nigeria to publicly condemn these acts and apologize to all Christians and Catholics around the world.

    I’m waiting ………………………………………………………………

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • angelcat
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 1:03pm

    May God give strength to all who have lost love ones and take the souls of those who died in His loving arms. I am waiting to hear our president condemn such religious prosecution and lack of relgious freedom, but I imagine it is hard to do that when he is trying to erode religious freedom here.

    Report Post »  
  • mycomet123
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 12:31pm

    I pray for all those involved, that God would bring comfort & strength to all people living in hostile environments/living conditions.

    Report Post »  
    • cuinsong
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 12:58pm

      I do not have the correct words that can describe our world and the mess it is in. But I try to put little pieces into music so I can make a small contribution in an effort to help open minds and ears.
      When I hear news like this stoning incident, I think of how easy these people are willing to off just about anybody that don’t act or look like them!
      They seem to have only one main reaction to other life styles or cultures they just want to eliminate them!
      Not to be out done with stupidity we also now have the lefties telling us that these people are better then evil rich Americans and that we need to be understanding of the Muslim culture! Sure!
      Like it or not NObama is sympathetic to the people who have this kind of society and he is trying to merge them into a new order. We need to stop it.
      These songs are for them!
      “What For” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11826046

      Report Post » cuinsong  
  • TexBork
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:41am

    Nobody should forget that radical Islam doesn’t just want to take over Israel and the US, but the entire world and the most of the rest of the Islamic people are simply just watching. The weirdest part is that radical leftists are now joining forces with them. From unions to Occupiers to Mao and Che loving socialist democrats they are joining forces to defeat capitalism and install their notion of “social justice”. The idiot left don‘t realize they are being used by the terrorists or they simply don’t care. The terrorists will wipe out their leftist western insurgents after the US is destroyed.

    Report Post » TexBork  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 1:07pm

      @texbork
      The reason the left is teaming up with radical islam, is they both have a common goal of destroying America……they both hate America…..sad , but true !!!

      Report Post »  
  • VoteRightDammit
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:32am

    I favor full, open immigration of all Muslims from Kenya and other countries so that OBama has sufficient numbers for his Citizens Corps.

    Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
  • Taquoshi
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:21am

    No group immediately claimed responsibility though the city has been targeted in the past by a radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram.

    Such a caring group, such love. Yep, that’s the Islam of Peace alright.

    Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:32am

      Grazing rights? the cain and abel story-the country mouse and the city mouse-as all conflicts ultuimately are about.

      Report Post »  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:37am

      Geeze, Rose-Ellen. Please just go away and STAY away.

      You are either mentally unstable or a psychopath. Either way, it’s you, not our, problem, and no one here has any interest in tolerating your behavior.

      Just scat. Please.

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • mycomet123
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 12:29pm

      ROSE-ELLEN, Just curious? Are you any relation to ITSJUSTTIM? If not, maybe the two of you could start your own website.

      Report Post »  
    • SoupSandwich
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 12:50pm

      Rosey feels blowing people up is just civil discourse and an attention getter. You rock Rosey, kudos to you and your ends justify the means ilk. Sad, sorry little troll you are. You should be sent back to Rhodesia circa 78′ just for the fun and kicks.

      Report Post »  
    • COFemale
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 1:17pm

      It is hard to argue with a schizophrenic bipolar mental case, so just pass Rose-Ellen or ItsJustTim as nut cases who go off their med on a regular basis.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on March 12, 2012 at 3:42am

      So, Rose, are you advocating that it is perfectly fine to car bomb a church because there has been a struggle over grazing rights in the area?

      This isn’t the first time the group has done this.

      The sect claimed a series of bombings in Jos on Christmas Eve in 2010 that killed as many as 80 people. The sect also claimed a similar church bombing on Feb. 26 on the main headquarters of the Church of Christ that killed three people and wounded 38 others.

      The more violent the Muslims are, the less likely they will be to receive the rights they claim they do not have.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
  • NOTAMUSHROOM
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:09am

    “Suicide bomber”? Really? Seriously.

    These are Islamofascist HOMICIDE BOMBERS! Could at least THe Blaze get that correct????

    Report Post »  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:35am

      That is absolutely correct.

      We are brainwashed into calling terrorists ‘insurgents’, calling mass murderers ‘suicide bombers’, calling homosexual anarchists ‘gay’.

      Through this wordcrafting, our opinions are subtly changed.

      It‘s insidious and it’s evil.

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 12:04pm

      lies that life is black and white-it’s political-not religious at its core.taking land that others have been using for grazing and depriving them of a livlihood.murder is murder but we murder in our interests too.and our religion-americanism.we want to start ww3 over cheap oil. same thing .

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 12:20pm

      Psychopath?i think you have me confused with your genocidst hero-alan west or perhaps his protoge the american in uniform who massacred civilians in afghanistan.at least he’s being held by other americans. that’s a victory for the afghans.i stand with them.

       
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 12:41pm

      who’s ITSJUSTTIM?

      Report Post »  
    • Free2speakRN
      Posted on March 12, 2012 at 1:32am

      rose-ellen

      Think what you want to think. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. All the anti-forgiveness mentality that was taught before Christ. Just, Please, just don’t claim to be a Catholic. You undermine the Faith. The beams in your eyes blind you to ‘peace’. Catholics are getting murdered left and right in almost every country over the Mid-East and Northern Africa. They aren’t the ones that are doing all these things you rage about. Just don‘t say you’re Catholic. It insults my intelligence. If you are Muslim, admit it. If you are, it would be good if you were one of peace. But you‘re a ’terrorist’ at heart. You live on some kind of Hate. Do you recieve Holy Communion with these terrorist desires, revenge in your heart. If so, as a Catholic you would know, it won’t go good for you upon your death. Do what you want. Just don’t claim to anybody, including yourself, that you are Catholic. In your rhetoric, all I sense is division and no room for the God of Abraham.

      Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:08am

    I am waiting for Obama to condemn these killings of Christians. I am waiting for the MSM to broadcast this news over and over.

    I am waiting, I am waiting, I am waiting…………

    Report Post »  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:19am

      Please, don’t hold your breathe. We need you.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • jharper
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 1:39pm

      MOMRULES….Obama has NO idea what you are talking about, I’m sure.

      Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:03am

    Christian churches all over the world are going to have to have elaborate security set ups to protect worshippers from Muslim demons. I say….we make them to the same….

    Report Post »  
    • SoupSandwich
      Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:23am

      Problem being we don’t breed or indoctrinate homocide/suicide bombers. The muslims have thankfully cornered that market or we would be dealing with global warming/change/thingy suicide bombers here. We need the LGBLT outreach to instruct on the usage of glitter bombs and not real ones. I see them getting along swimingly with the other half of their large global tent.

      Report Post »  
  • ChildofJesus
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 11:03am

    They’ll be in my prayers. I pray God will bless the church and comfort the families.

    Report Post »  
  • SoupSandwich
    Posted on March 11, 2012 at 10:55am

    This ain’t Philly or Detroit?

    Report Post »  

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