Deadly blast hits church near Nigerian capital

A deadly blast exploded at a church near Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Sunday. Rescue teams rushed to evacuate the area and said there were at least 27 casualties. Islamist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has increasingly had to tackle issues of security in the country Reuters / Afolabi Sotunde

The explosion occurred at St. Theresa Church in Madalla, just outside the capital Abuja. Rescue teams remained unsure of the number of people inside at the time of the explosion.

In the area near the scene of the blast, angry youths started fires and threatened to attack a nearby police station.

Also on Sunday, a blast hit the area near a church in the central city of Jos. Two more blasts rocked the northeastern city of Damaturu, including a suspected suicide
bombing.

A Boko Haram spokesman said they would launch similar attacks in the north of the country in the next few days.

Nigeria has been hit by scores of bomb blasts attributed to Boko Haram. Up to 100 people have died in three Nigerian cities in recent days, due to attacks blamed on the sect and the accompanying military crackdown.

Blasts rocked the city of Jos on Christmas Eve in 2010.

There is increasing speculation that Boko Haram has formed links with outside terrorist groups, such as the north African branch of Al-Qaeda.