Christmas Eve attacks kill at least 38 in Nigeria

At least 38 people were killed and over 80 others injured today in a series of blasts and attacks on churches on Christmas Eve in Nigeria's northern cities of Jos and Maiduguri, officials said.

Initial reports said at least seven blasts rocked two different areas of Jos, the capital of Plateau state, killing 32 people and injuring 74, police said.

"At least 32 people were killed and 74 others injured in the multiple blasts," Plateau State Police Commissioner Abdulrahman Akano told reporters.

An official from National Emergency Management Agency said that he has seen more than 20 bodies.

"We have counted more than 20 bodies and more are being brought in and deposited in a morgue at the Plateau Specialist Hospital," the official told PTI.

According to him, the figures were conservative as there are bodies deposited at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

The multiple explosions came after the Plateau government received anonymous warnings threatening attacks in the state that is prone to religious violence.

In the city of Maiduguri in northern Nigeria, the attackers hauled two petrol bombs into two churches killing six worshippers.

"This is a worrisome situation and the government will do all it can to fish out the perpetrators of this evil act," Borno State Governor Ali Sheriff said.

Revellers and Christians preparing to celebrate Christmas were targeted by the bombers.

Plateau state commissioner for information Greg Yenlong said that before the attacks there were threats from some people and the festive period was mentioned.

"Whoever dismissed such rumors as mere rumors should now know better," Yenlong added.

Past killings in the state have had the couloration of ethnicity and religion.

On March 7, clashes broke out between Muslims and Christians that claimed 109 lives.

Since then, sporadic killings have been reported from both groups in their attempts to carry out reprisals.

In Maiduguri, a religious sect called Boko Haram meaning western education is sacrilegious caused an uprising that led to the death of more than 800 people last year.

Leader of the group Muhammed Yusuf was killed by the Nigerian military on July 30, 2009.

The sect wanted to enforce Islamic law across Nigeria and in the process burnt churches, attacked police stations and a prison and clashed with security forces in the northern states of Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Yobe.

Nigeria's 150 million population is shared equally among the Muslims and the Christians and they live side by side in several cities and villages.