U.S. to help Nigeria hunt church bombers

The Obama administration promised to help Nigeria find the people responsible for a wave of Christmas Day bombings that killed dozens in the oil-rich African nation.

?We have been in contact with Nigerian officials about what appear to be terrorist acts and pledge to assist them in bringing those responsible to justice,? White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.

Boko Haram, a Muslim sect, reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks ? two of which targeted churches. A year ago, the group said it was behind holiday bombings that killed more than 90.

The first explosion occurred as services were ending at St. Theresa?s Church near the capital, Abjua. Yemi Ajayi, a police spokesman, said at least 20 people were killed.

Another blast, at a church in the central city of Jos, capital of Plateau state, killed a policeman, said Pam Ayuba, a spokesman for the state government.

A suspected suicide-bomber rammed a car into the entrance of the State Security Service building in the northeastern city of Damaturu, killing four people and the bomber, Victor Ebhaleme, a spokesman for the military task force in charge of security in the region, said by phone from Maiduguri.

The Boko Haram, a group that draws inspiration from Afghanistan?s Taliban movement, claimed responsibility for the Abuja church attack, the Abuja-based Trust newspaper reported, citing a spokesman for the group, Abu Qaqa. The claim couldn?t be independently verified.

The Vatican denounced the attacks, saying the church bombings were a sign of ?cruelty and absurd blind hatred that shows no respect for human life.

Authorities in Africa?s top oil producer blame the Boko Haram for a surge of violence in the mainly Muslim north and Abuja in which hundreds of people have died this year. At least 72 people have been killed in fighting since Dec. 22 between Nigerian security forces and the militant group in the northeastern city of Damaturu, officials said.

Boko Haram, which translates to ?Western education is a sin,? claimed responsibility for a suicide car-bomb attack on the United Nations building in the capital on Aug. 26 that killed 24 people. It also claimed several Christmas Eve blasts last year in Jos that left 80 people dead and another blast on New Year?s Eve at an Abuja military barracks that killed at least 12 people.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/u-s-nigeria-hunt-terrorists-bombed-churches-christmas-day-article-1.996885?localLinksEnabled=false

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