MAIDUGURI/JOS - Militants attacked two churches in northern and central
Nigeria on Sunday, spraying the congregation of one with bullets and
blowing up a car in a suicide bombing at the other, hundreds of kilometers away, witnesses said.
There was no immediate word on casualties and no claim of
responsibility, although attacking churches has become a trademark
tactic of Islamist group Boko Haram which is fighting to reinstate an
ancient 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 ... Many people have been killed and wounded," said
witness Hamidu Wakawa, who was at the church in Biu Town, in
northeastern Borno state.
To the south-west, in the city of Jos, a man drove a car to the entrance
of the Christ Chosen Church and then blew it up, said Emmanuel Davou,
53, who lives nearby.
Police were unable to give immediate details on either attack.