Christmas Eve Attacks in Nigeria Kill at Least 26
The worst attacks occurred in the central city of Jos, where police on Saturday said at least 20 people were killed in seven explosions in two separate areas.
In the northern city of Maiduguri, authorities say suspected members of the Islamist sect Boko Haram threw gasoline bombs at three churches, killing six people and leaving one of the churches burned to the ground. Among the dead was a Baptist pastor.
Members of the sect have been blamed for a series of attacks in recent months on police and community leaders.
The governor of Borno state, Ali Sheriff, described the assaults as a “worrisome situation” and said officials must ensure adequate safety for worshippers.
Nigeria's 140 million people are divided roughly evenly between Christians and Muslims.
The tensions in the Middle Belt have been stoked by ethnic divisions as different groups vie for control of fertile farmlands and political power. Local rights groups say about 1,500 people have been killed in the region this year.
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