Boko Haram Attack on Christian Church in Jos

On February 26, 2012 the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram conducted a suicide bomb attack on a Christian church in Jos, Nigeria. The attack killed at least 3 and injured approximately 50 at the church.

Boko Haram spokesman Abul Qaqa told reportes that the Christian Church of Nigerian had not been targeted for a specific reason.  “We attacked simply because it’s a church and we can decide to attack any other church.  We have just started”, Qaqa said.

Media reports quote witnesses as saying that a car “packed with explosives”  rammed the gate of a perimeter fence at the church and exploded a few yards from a wall of the 800-seat church.

The nature of the attack, using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBEID), the intentional targeting of a Christian church worship service, and the statements of the Boko Haram spokesman combine to indicate a significant escalation of the threat Boko Haram represents to the Christian church in Nigeria.

Please continue to check CCI’s website for updated information.  We will be issuing a Special Advisory concerning the Boko Haram threat in Nigeria on 28 February.