Bomb blast kills five at Nigerian mosque

The Spec ^ | Friday, December 30, 2011 | McClatchy-Tribune news services

[SunkenCiv]

At least five people were killed in a bomb explosion at a mosque in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri after Friday prayers, police sources said.

Several more worshippers were wounded and the blast took place as people were leaving the mosque, police said...

Maiduguri is the base of Boko Haram, the Islamist group that claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day attacks on churches in Nigeria in which 27 people died.

On Thursday, Boko Haram emailed a statement to some Nigerian media that said: "If God is willing we will carry out further attacks."

Some Maiduguri residents believed Boko Haram was behind Friday's bombing, while others feared it could be a reprisal attack by the Christian community following the Christmas Day attacks on churches in three cities.

New Year religious services and some festivals have been cancelled in parts of Nigeria after the Christmas bombings. They include the Afan festival in the central city of Kaduna, the site of several Boko Haram attacks in recent weeks.

The festival is the largest ethnic celebration in the north of the country and usually takes place on the first day of the year.

Rev. Issac Achi of the St. Teresa Catholic Church in Madalla, the target of one of the Christmas morning bombings, told dpa that midnight mass at the church was cancelled amid security concerns.

"I am directing all parishes in this deaconry not to hold all-night mass (as usual) on Dec. 31," he said. "Everybody will observe the night with their families."

He said the security measure was not an act "of cowardice but a reality of our time."

[SunkenCiv]

A map of the Sahel region showing where Al Qaeda operates (AFP/Graphic)

[Parley Baer]

Hmmmmm, it looks like a little retaliation is starting to take place against radical Islam.

[bigheadfred]

YAY!!!

[bigbob]

Too bad they didn’t hit one of those internet cafes where all the scams come from

[fhayek]

Fighting fire with fire?

[tet68]

Work accident?

After assembly it was destroyed in transit...

[VicVega]

Watch out Christians, we may send our troops in to protect the muslims. Even though you are right to retaliate.

[fhayek]

I would guess that your average mosque is a potential repository of incendiary or explosive munitions. Perhaps Achmed got careless...

[hadaclueonce]

Sounds like the begining of WW1 all over again.

[panaxanax]

My first thought was Christians not “turning the other cheek” and retaliating. Second thought was that someone wants to start a world-wide religious war.

We’ll see.

[livius]

This place was apparently Boko Haram’s main center, so I doubt that Christians would have been able to pull it off even if they had wanted to.

It was probably a “work accident” in a munitions-stuffed mosque. Or it could be an attack by Boko Haram on a mosque perceived as not radical enough, or even something done so that they could whip up their devotees by claiming it was done by Christians.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Maybe the Christian leaders passed a fartwa banning pacifism! A counter-jihad against the Muzzies is long overdue...everywhere, but let it start there.

[dfwgator]

Muslims fight more amongst each other than they do even against the infidels.

[montag813]

I hope this is Catholic payback. If so, 5 dead is not nearly enough.

[null and void]

On Thursday, Boko Haram emailed a statement to some Nigerian media that said: "If God is willing we will carry out further attacks."

Apparently their pig-dog-god wasn't willing.

[panaxanax]

“..they could whip up their devotees by claiming it was done by Christians.”

Good point, sorta like Hitler’s Reichstag fire was used against the Communists.

[panaxanax]

Too bad it won’t stay there. Coming to our shores soon, I fear.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks, all.

Sapele Bomb Blast Not A Reprisal -Minister
Written by Adelowo Oladipo, Minna Saturday, 31 December 2011
http://tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/news/6251-sapele-bomb-blast-not-a-reprisal-minister.html

The Minister of Niger- Delta, Hajia Zainab Kuchi, has said that the bomb explosion that rocked the Islamic School, Sapele, Dalta State, on Wednesday, was not a reprisal attack, just as she called on people to remain calm as the Federal Government is doing its best to address the spate of bomb blasts in the country.

The minister spoke on Thursday, while commiserating with the leadership and people of St Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, where a Christmas Day bomb-blast claimed over 43 lives, noting that the spate of explosions in parts of the country is beyond religious reasons.

She maintained that the present security challenges facing the country is not unconnected to agents of destruction, who are hell-bent on destabilising the country, saying it was when Abuja was inpenetrable for them that the perpetrators resorted to places like Madalla.

According to her, government would not rest on its oars until the perpetrators and their sponsors are unearthed and brought to book, adding that no serious government will fold its arms to watch her citizens maimed and killed.

Kuchi dismissed the idea that it was economic hardship that compelled people to take to terrorism, stating that there are more economically backward countries than Nigeria in the West African sub-region, but are living peacefully.

On a stop-over, the minister commiserated with the Emir of Suleja, Mallam Auwal Ibrahim over the incident and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives during the blast.

She also made donation of an undisclosed amount of money to the Parish Priest of the Catholic church, Reverend Father Isaac Achi, for the victims of the bomb blast.

[VicVega]

Thanks for the update. Is that like saying the attack on Ft. Hood wasn’t by a muslim but workplace violence? Helps with calming things down.

[SunkenCiv]

Nigeria keyword topics with titles containing Boko Haram, explosions, Christians, bombs, blasts; newest to oldest, duplicates out:

• Nigeria: al-Qaeda-linked group gives Christians 3-day deadline
• Boko Haram attacks prompt Nigeria state of emergency
• Why can't Nigeria defeat Boko Haram?
• Nigerian churches call Christmas bombings 'declaration of war'
• Islamofascism And The War on Nigeria's Christians
• Islamists 'Celebrate' Christmas
• Nigeria: Suicide Bombers Spoil Christmas
• Christmas Attacks in Nigeria Kill 39
• Muslim sect claims Nigeria church attacks; 25 dead (Christmas Day christian massacre)
• Christmas Attacks In Nigeria By Sect Kill 39 [Christmas Mass Murder On Church Doorsteps!]
• "Nigerian Taliban" church bombings kill dozens [at Christmas Mass]
• At Least 25 Dead in Blasts at Nigeria Churches
• Christmas Day explosions rock Nigerian churches
• Blast hits Nigeria church during Christmas service
• Underwear bomber seeks new US lawyer
• Nigeria's ex-Boko Haram spokesman Konduga jailed
• At Least 45 Christians Killed in Plateau State, Nigeria
• Nigeria bomb attacks 'kill dozens' in Damaturu
• A Nigerian strongman would only compound the damage of the bombings
• Nigeria and Boko Haram
• Why we attacked UN building - Boko Haram
• Medics: Death toll rises to 25 from blast at UN Abuja office
• Abuja attack: Car bomb hits Nigeria UN building
• Suicide Bomber Attacks U.N. Building in Nigeria (at least 18 dead)
• Jihadists bring "progress" to Nigeria: the country's first suicide bombing
• 16 killed in Christian village in northern Nigeria: police
• Christmas weekend violence kills 38 in Nigeria
• Yule ghouls' jingle bombs
• Bombs by Nigerian Insurgents Kill 8
• 8 die as Muslims strike Christian village in Nigeria
• Nigeria Swears in New Christian President (To take the place of Muslim predecessor who just died)
• Two Christian journalists killed
• Nigeria: New Machete Attacks Killing Christian Women and Children - Cut Out Tongues
• More Christians Murdered in Nigerian Jihad
• Nigeria: Muslims Shouting "Allah Akbar" Slaughter 500 Christians
• Nigeria Urged to Probe Death of Hundreds (Brutal Massacre Of Christian Villagers)
• Nigerian Muslim Herders Attack Christians With Machetes; 300 Dead (Warning-Graphic photo)
• Nigeria - ICC Report: "Muslim Mob Burns Down Christian Shops, 8 Churches in Nigeria"
• Skelton says thwarted Christmas Day plane attack must serve as warning
• Nigeria offers airport images of bomber
• Nigeria Orders Increased Airport Security after Failed US Plane Bombing
• Source: Plane Bomb Suspect Chose Vulnerable Seat
• Official: Mutallab 'Sneaked' Bomb Into Nigeria
• Game Changer: Alleged Northwest Airline Leg-Bomber Doesn't Fit the Profile
• Nigeria orders probe into failed US plane bombing
• Umaru Mutallab's Son Identified As Delta Airline Attempted Bomber
• Guess The Missing Word In NY Times Report On Attempted Plane Bombing
• US Calls Explosion on Airplane 'Attempted Act of Terrorism'
• Explosive device set off aboard airliner(by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab )
• Federal Officials and Rep. Peter King: Suspected Plane Bomber's Name is "Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab"
• Midair [Islamic terrorist] Bomb Attempt Fails - Man on Flight to Detroit Claims Al Qaeda Ties
• Biblical Christianity attacks apostasy worldwide
• Biblical Christianity attacks apostasy worldwide
• Christian-Muslim Clash Kills 11 in Nigeria
• Muslims Riot and Attack Christians in Nigeria Over Election Results
• Hundreds killed in Nigeria clashes (Muslim-Christian clashes on rumors of election loss)
• Senator Feingold Blast Nigerian Government Over N/Delta's "Resource Curse"
• Warning for Christian polygamists
• New Prophet Muhammad cartoon riots kill Christians in Nigeria
• Again! 10 Christians slaughtered over alleged Muhammad cartoon (Religion of Peace Alert)
• Nigeria's Top Muslim Leader Denies Calling for Jihad; Says 'I Love Christians'
• Truck Bomb Fails to Derail Nigerian Vote
• Muslim pupils kill (Christian) teacher.
• Red Cross says 269 killed in Nigerian fuel blast
• Up to 500 killed in Lagos fuel blast
• Lagos fuel blast kills up to 500
• Nigerian Christians flee to police after Muslim rioters burn churches, homes
• Nigeria Muslims Stone Christian Woman To Death For Preaching ...
• Big is the word for Africa's Christians
• Some 200 reported dead in Nigeria blast
• Nigeria Oil Blast Kills at Least 150
• Oil pipeline has exploded in Nigeria (200 feared dead)
• Bomb explodes near Nigerian refinery
• Car Bomb at Nigerian Military Base Kills 2
• Christians defend attacks on Muslims in Nigeria
• Cartoons spark violent attacks (Muslims Burn Christians & Priest ALIVE in Nigeria)
• Christian mobs kill Muslims in Nigeria; homes, shops looted
• muslims flee christian attacks
• Nigerian Christians Mob Muslims
• "Turn the Other Cheek" and the Violence of Shari (Christians strike back)
• Nigerian Christians being massacred
• Nigerian Christians cry out as they are slaughtered by Muslims
• Christian family ambushed in Nigeria - (10,000 Christians killed by Muslims since 1999)
• Nigeria's war on Christians
• Nigeria: Militants target Christians
• CHURCH FORCED TO MOVE HEADQUARTERS (Church of Christ to avoid Muslim religious violence.)
• Next Pope Key To Bridging Africa's Explosive Christian-Muslim Divide - (maybe first African Pope)
• Nigerian Muslim Militants "Pronounce Death Sentence" over Christian Students
• Nigerian universities close after religious clashes (Kano Dec. 2004 - sharing Christian texts)
• Scores killed in Nigerian oil pipeline blast (50 people blowed up while stealing fuel)
• Bombing of Church in Nigeria on Anniversary of Twin Towers Attack (September 17, 2002)
• Two Christians killed and nine churches vandalized in Nigeria in protest against visit (2001)
• Tension in Benue over alleged plan to attack Christians
• Report: Muslims slaughter 600 Christians
• Report: Muslims slaughter 600 Christians
• Christians flee bloodshed in northern Nigeria
• Thousands of Nigerians Flee Violence [Hundreds of Christians Die in Bloody Massacres in Kano]
• Hundreds of Christians Die in Bloody Massacres in Kano
• Weblog: Nigerian Christians Say Nearly 600 Killed In This Week's Riots
• Christians say nearly 600 slain by Muslims in riots
• Muslim Mobs, Seeking Vengeance, Attack Christians in Nigeria
• Christians flee Muslim mobs
• (Islamic) Mobs raze Christian-run businesses in Nigeria
• The Passion Of The Christ And Passionless Christians
• Nigeria: Sharia Laws To Be Enforced on Christians
• Reuters: "Christians massacre hundreds of Muslims"
• 80 killed as members of Nigerian Christian tribe attacks Muslim group
• More than 100 die in Nigeria fighting (Muslims vs. Christians)
• 20 killed in Nigeria Muslim-Christian clash
• Peaceful and Loving Update: "1500 Christians killed in Nigeria" (+ 50,000 displaced persons)
• NIGERIA: Islamic Radicals Massacre Christians
• Nigeria Denies Nuclear Bomb Bid
• Muslim raid kills 48 (Christians) in Nigeria [hacked to death inside their Church]
• Premeditated Islamic Attacks on Christians (Muslims burn down 10 churches,100+ church properties)
• Eleven Christian nurses sacked for refusing headscarves
• Nigerian Satellite Blasts Into Orbit
• [Political bombshell]: Braun makes official her bid for presidency
• Christians Slaughtered, Persecuted Under Islamic Law
• Nigerian Oil Pipeline Ruptures, Explodes
• Election of Homosexual Bishop 'Could Fuel Anti-Christian Persecution'
• The One and the Many: Christianity today?
• 105 Nigerians Killed in Pipeline Blast
• Scores killed as blast rocks Nigeria
• Over fifty feared killed in explosion in business district of Lagos, Nigeria
• NIGERIA: Christians Organizing for Religious War
• Muslims urged to kill Christian fashion writer
• Nigerian Christians Urged to Fight Back
• Riots rage on as Miss World contestants flee Nigeria (Muslin, Christian Street War)
• 100 dead as Miss World riots spread in Nigeria (Christians Under Siege)
• Nigeria: Explosion Rips Through Lagos Air Cargo Wing
• Islamic prosecutors seek death penalty for Christian converts
• Death penalty sought as Muslims convert to Christianity