Saturday, January 7, 2012

Nigeria: Gunmen storm church, kill 6 as Boko Haram's 3-day ultimatum for Christians to leave expires

from Jihad Watch:


Nigeria: Gunmen storm church, kill 6 as Boko Haram's 3-day ultimatum for Christians to leave expires







The mujahedin certainly like their cowardly ambushes, here attacking Christians in a church with their eyes closed in prayer. The jihadists never seem to do as well when they have to face a regular army and fight like men. An update on this story. "Gunmen kill six in attack at Nigerian church: pastor," by Aminu Abubakar for Agence France-Presse, January 5:



Gunmen stormed a church in northern Nigeria Thursday and killed six people as they were praying, the pastor said, as an ultimatum from Islamists for Christians in the region to leave expired.



"It was around 7:30 pm (1830 GMT)," John Jauro told AFP of the attack in the city of Gombe.



"I was leading the congregation in prayers. Our eyes were closed when some gunmen stormed the church and opened fire on the congregation. Six people were killed in the attack and 10 others were wounded."



He said there was confusion as worshippers sought to flee at the Deeper Life Christian Ministry Church.



A police spokesman declined to comment until Friday, saying he was on his way to the church with the state police commissioner.



The attack comes after a purported spokesman for Islamist group Boko Haram on Sunday issued a three-day ultimatum for Christians living in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north to leave the region.



There was however no claim of responsibility for the attack.



The ultimatum came after President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday declared a state of emergency in parts of four states hit hard by violence blamed on Boko Haram, particulary Christmas bombings that killed 49 people.



Gombe is outside the areas affected by the state of emergency decree.



On Wednesday night, bomb blasts hit two northeastern cities that are included in the emergency declaration.



No casualties were reported after the bomb attacks in Maiduguri and Damaturu, claimed by the same purported spokesman for Boko Haram who issued the ultimatum to Christians.



One of the bombs in Maiduguri, Boko Haram's stronghold, destroyed a house near a customs barracks, according to a customs source and resident. The Damaturu blast occurred at an open-air pub.



In a separate incident, two civilians were shot dead on the outskirts of Damaturu, a hospital source said.



The attacks were the first in the state of emergency areas since Jonathan's declaration in Africa's most populous nation and largest oil producer....



Posted by Marisol on January 6, 2012 5:43 AM

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