2014-05-21 08:10:00

Bomb blast in Nigerian city of Jos kills over 100 people


(Vatican Radio) Two car bombs exploded at a bustling bus terminal and market in Nigeria's central city of Jos Tuesday, killing at least 118 people, and wounding dozens of others. The attack is similar to recent ones perpetrated by the islamist terrorist group Boko Haram, including two bomb blasts in April that killed more than 120 people and wounded more than 200 in Abuja, the nation's capital. The group is also responsible for the kidnapping of nearly 300 schoolgirls last month.

 

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Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the attack, and assured "all Nigerians that the government remains fully committed to winning the war against terror."

 

"This administration will not be cowed by the atrocities of enemies of human progress and civilization," the statement said.

 

Jos is the capital of Nigeria’s Plateau state, located in the middle region of the country, where the Christian south meets the Muslim north.  

 

The Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama, called the bombing “very  disturbing” and “quite sad”.  He said it was a “retrogressive” event, in light of recent peacebuilding activities between Christian and Muslim leaders. 

 

“Just two weeks ago, the Catholic Church launched its Cathedral and Muslim leaders were not only there, but actually made donations,” he told the Nigerian newspaper Leadership.

 

“Because of the solidarity and the oneness that characterised the event we concluded that peace had finally returned to Jos,” he said.

 

Archbishop Kaigama, who serves as the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, also urged Nigerians to pray for peace.








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