Second child suicide bombing kills 3 and injures 46 people in Nigeria

According to reports from The World Post, two young girls - strapped with explosives - blew themselves up in an open market in Yobe State, Nigeria.

It was the second attack in two consecutive days upon the state, which has been frequently targeted by jihadist group Boko Haram. Sunday's attack killed three people and 46 were injured.

The young girls were about 10 years old, according to witness Sani Abdu Potiskum, a vendor at the market in Potiskum town. "I saw their dead bodies. They are two young girls of about 10 years of age ... you only see the plaited hair and part of the upper torso," the trader said.

A day before the bombing, a similar incident happened in Maiduguri city where a girl believed to be around 10-years-old also blew herself up in a busy market.  Sixteen people were killed and 20 injured in that attack, according to security sources.

A suicide bomber also hit Potiskum town last November, killing at least 48 students during an assembly while a bomb exploded in a Potiskum police station prior to this incident.

Boko Haram, a Sunni Muslim jihadist group, has been trying to establish their territory in the northeast part of Nigeria for years and has been a major concern for the government. The failure to stop the movement until now is a hurdle for the re-election campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan in February.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, an estimated 10,000 people died in the violence last year.

The military has been losing ground and took a major hit when insurgents took over a town near an army base in Baga, Borno State massacring an estimated 2,000 people .

The World Post further reports that President Jonathan's campaign team has been hit by violence. According to police spokesman Abu Sunday Emmanuel, the driver of the campaign vehicle was killed by youths and two campaign vehicles were burnt.

"The youths were chanting, no PDP, no to Jonathan Badluck," a witness said, referring to the ruling People's Democratic Party.

The government publicly denounces the unprovoked attack on the President's campaign vehicle, according to a statement from PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh.

News
Pope seeks prayers for peace in Christmas Day message
Pope seeks prayers for peace in Christmas Day message

The Pope asked people to pray in particular for the "tormented people of Ukraine" in his Christmas Day 'Urbi et Orbi' message. 

Who was St Stephen and why is he remembered on December 26?
Who was St Stephen and why is he remembered on December 26?

The carol says, “Good King Wenceslas last looked out on the Feast of Stephen.” In many countries, December 26, also known as Boxing Day, is better known as St Stephen’s Day. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. This is the story …

King Charles reflects on pilgrimage, reconciliation and hope in Christmas Day address
King Charles reflects on pilgrimage, reconciliation and hope in Christmas Day address

King Charles III used his Christmas Day speech to reflect on the significance of pilgrimage as he appealed to the nation "to cherish the values of compassion and reconciliation". 

2 Timothy 3:16 is Logos' Bible verse of the year, Matthew was the most studied book
2 Timothy 3:16 is Logos' Bible verse of the year, Matthew was the most studied book

One of the most-studied Bible verses of the year is from 2 Timothy in the New Testament, according to an analysis of millions of Bible study sessions that tracked how believers worldwide are engaging with Scripture.