Insurgent happening in Christmas day 2011
A series of attacks occurred during Christmas Day church services in northern Nigeria on 25 December 2011. There were bomb blasts and shootings at churches in Madalla, Jos, Gadaka, and Damaturu. A total of 41 people were reported dead.
Boko Haram, a Muslim sect in Nigeria, later claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Bombings.
Madalla.
At least 37 people died and 57 others were injured in an attack at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, a satellite town of Abuja located from the city center. A local coordinator with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the death toll.
NEMA spokesperson Yushau Shuaibu said that the Madalla bombing occurred on the street outside the church. He added that the church, which can hold 1,000 people, was badly affected by the blast. Witnesses said that the windows of nearby houses were shattered by the explosion. Officials at the local hospital said that the condition of many injured people was serious. Slaku Luguard, a NEMA coordinator, said that rescue workers found at least 25 bodies and officials were tallying the wounded in various hospitals. NEMA acknowledged that it did not have enough ambulances to help the wounded. Luguard also said that an angry crowd, which gathered at the blast site, blocked emergency workers from getting inside: "We're trying to calm the situation. There are some angry people around trying to cause problems," he said.
Jos.
An explosion hit the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church in Jos and gunmen later fired on police who were guarding the area resulting in the death of one police officer.
Another two bombs were found in a nearby building and were disarmed.
Gadaka and Damaturu.
Two explosions were reported in the city of Damaturu and another at a church in the northeastern town of Gadaka. At least one of the attacks in Damaturu was the work of a suicide car bomber, who rammed the building housing the headquarters of the State Security Service. At least three people were killed in that blast; a senior military commander allegedly targeted by it survived.
Perpetrators.
The attacks were claimed by the Islamist group Boko Haram.
Former secretary Reverend John Joseph Hyap expressed sadness that the attack was carried out at the time Christians were celebrating Christmas with their counterparts in the world.
UN Security Council condemned the attacks and ratified the need to fight terrorism by all means. It also said that terrorism in all its forms and expressions is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motives or where, when and who perpetrates the crimes. It further added that these actions cannot be linked to any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group.
Foreign Minister Alain Juppe condemned the "violent attacks" and sent his condolences to the victims' families and the Nigerian government, while also denouncing the "outbreak of violence. As I expressed to the Nigerian authorities during my visit there in November last year, France supports them in their fight against terrorism."
Director of the Press Office Father Federico Lombardi condemned the attacks and said: "We are close to the suffering of the Nigerian Church and the entire Nigerian people so tried by terrorist violence, even in these days that should be of joy and peace."
A statement by the Department of International Relation and Co-operation read: "Following the attacks of 25 December, President Zuma has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria particularly families of the deceased and the injured."
References.
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