Dozens killed in Islamist attack on churches in Nigeria

Churches are among the targets in a series of bombs attacks that have left 63 people dead in the northeastern Nigerian town of Damaturu.

Christians are among the scores of people killed as churches were blasted. Yobe state police HQ was also among the targets hit.

The bombings follow extensive attacks against Nigerian security forces near Maiduguri City by the Islamist group Boko Haram, which means “Western education is forbidden”.

A BBC correspondent in Lagos said people were reporting the death toll could be as high as 92, and AFP reported that hundreds are being treated in hospitals as a result of the attacks.

Reports indicate that the bombings began at about 6.30pm local time on Friday and continued for around 90 minutes.

Following the series of bombs, reports indicate that Boko Haram members took part in running gun battles with security forces, increasing the death toll further.

According to a Roman Catholic priest in the region, at least nine churches were bombed in the attacks, the BBC reports.

In addition to the latest church bombings, an armed gang opened fire at a church in Kaduna state last Thursday, killing two people and wounding 11, some critically.

Kaduna state is divided along religious and political lines, with Christians occupying a large part of the southern section, while Muslims are concentrated in the north. It is largely representative of the way Nigeria is divided as a whole, a situation that has led to numerous violent clashes between hostile groups.

More than 1,000 people have died in the neighbouring Plateau state over such clashes.

In April, Kaduna’s first ever-Christian governor was elected, which sparked outrage and violence as Muslim groups were evicted from their homes, and around 3,000 people’s homes were burned down.

Boko Haram had previously declared their plans to take revenge.