Nigeria: At least 24 dead, 125 wounded in Kaduna violence

Daily Trust has confirmed that at least 13 people lost their lives in the bomb attacks on three churches in Kaduna this morning.

In addition, about 11 others have been killed in reprisal attacks across the town.

According to Dr. Taylor Adeyemi, the acting Chief Medical Director of St. Luke's hospital in Wusasa, 40 victims, mostly children were brought into their hospital follwoing the blast at ECWA in Wusasa. Of this number, three were dead on arrival.

From the blast at the Christ the King Cathedral at No. 80 Yoruba street Daily Trust confirmed 10 dead and over 50 injured. Daily Trust is yet to get details of the casualties from the Trikania attack.

Three churches were attacked this morning by suicide bombers in Kaduna. One went off at the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) church, Wusasa and another at the Christ the King Cathedral Catholic church at No. 80, Yoruba Street, Sabon Gari, Zaria, just behind the Army Depot, Zaria where all Nigerian soldiers receive their basic training. The third church, Shalom Church at Trikania close to Abuja Fly over and extile Labour house, was hit by multiple explosions around 10:17am.

Also, about 35 victims of the reprisal attacks that followed the bombing have been taken to St. Gerard's Hospital within the metropolis according to the hospitals public relations officer. Seven of them were dead on arrival, burnt by their presumed assailants.

The explosions sparked violence in Kaduna as christian youths retaliated, moving around with cutlasses and sticks among other weapons. Sources say the youths  burnt a mosque at Television area and another at Goningora was broken into and vandalised in retaliation for the attacks on the three churches.

Men of Operation Yaki are said to have taken charge of the situation, especially around Goningora which is along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway and where Christian youths were beginning to get violent. An eyewitness told Daily Trust he saw four dead bodies near the Goningora mosque. Other trouble spots so far identified are Sabo, Trikania, Television area, Tudun Wada and Unguwan Rimi.

Road blocks have been set up at strategic areas and traffic along the expressway has been halted. Other areas of Kaduna metropolis are experiencing an uneasy calm.

The Abuja-Kaduna expressway links many states in the North to Abuja.

from DailyTrust
Written by Christy Alabi Sunday, 17 June 2012 10:39 

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Nigeria: Family Confirms Abul Qaqa II Killed

Minna — The purportedly slain Boko Haram's new spokesman, Mohammed Auwal better known as Abu Qaqa II, hailed from Tudun Wada area of Kontagora town in Niger State, a resident of Kontagora said yesterday.

Qaqa II became Boko Haram's spokesman after the arrest of the former Qaqa in January by security operatives. The resident of the town, who craved for anonymity, told Daily Trust in Minna yesterday that Auwal's father, who is known as Mohammed Goma, received the news of the death of his son on Saturday.

Mohammed Auwal, according to a source, was a tailor in Kaduna and he was never known to have any suspicious character let alone becoming a member of the sect.

The family of Abu Qaqa II was informed via a phone call that he was arrested in Kaduna where he was later believed to have been killed. It was learnt that Auwal's father was devastated following the news of his son's death because the deceased was the family's bread winner.

from allAfrica

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Another Bomb blast rocks central Nigerian city of Jos

Jos – There was an explosion Sunday night in Tudun Wada area of Jos, injuring a seven year old girl and others. But no life was lost.

It was learnt that the blast occurred at about 8pm near a shop and was believed to have been planted near a motorcycle parked close to the shop.

A 505 Station wagon car was destroyed by the explosion alongside the motorcycle.

Media Officer of the Special Task Force, Capt. Mdahyelya Markus confirmed the incident. He said the  girl sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital.

NEMA spokesman, Yishau Shuaib also confirmed the blast.

Police spokesman in the Plateau capital, ASP Samuel Dabai, who confirmed the incident,said  that a suspect, riding on a motorcycle threw the explosive device and escaped.

He said the injured had been taken to the Plateau Specislist Hospital. Dabai said no arrest had been made, adding that investigation had gone underway to identify those behind the incident.

The Govenor’s Lodge and office, the police command’s headquarters and the seat of the military Special Task Force deployed to maintain law and order in the state are situated in the area under attack.

Only last Thursday, the Commissioner of Police in Plateau, Emmanuel Ayeni, announced a ban on the operations of motorcycles in the state from 7 p.m. on that day to 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

Making the announcement at a parley with representatives of security agencies and leaders of religious groups, Ayeni said the measure was part of efforts to ensure hitch-free Easter celebrations.

Sunday’s explosion paralysed social and night life in the Plateau capital as revellers scampered to safety. Most drink joints were instantly put under lock by their operators. (NAN)

from vanguardngr

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Nigeria: Boko Haram claims responsibility for attacks in northern states

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's Boko Haram militant sect has claimed responsibility for the attacks on a police station, an army lodge and a satellite prison in the two northern states of Kano and Yobe.

The sect launched multiple attacks in Tudun Wada last week and the northeastern town of Damagun in Yobe State, killing scores of people.

The spokesman of the sect, Abu Qaqa, on Thursday said the attack on Damagun was executed to free one of their members held in a satellite prison in the sleepy community.

Qaqa also claimed that three and not eight of the Islamic militia were killed in the attack on Tudun Wada in the Nigeria northwest city of Kano.

The Nigerian police had claimed that they killed eight members of the sect after an attack on a police station.

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