Monrovia/Abuja (dpa) – At least 16 people were killed and 12 wounded in a shoot-out at a town hall in the northern Nigerian town of Mubi, television reports said Friday. The attack reportedly targeted southern Nigerians who were visiting the town, which lies near the border with Cameroon. Gunmen opened fire at a meeting attended by about 40 southern retailers, police sources told a television reporter. The shoot-out follows a bomb explosion that killed six people and wounded 10 at a church in the north-eastern city of Gombe Thursday night. Ishaya Bako, an official of the Deeper Life Church in Gombe, told dpa that gunmen suspected to be members of the Islamist group Boko Haram – which has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in recent weeks – stormed the church during a service at 7 pm (1800 GMT) Thursday and shot worshipers, including the pastor's wife. Boko Haram has stepped up its campaign against churchgoers in recent weeks. At least 40 people were killed on Christmas Day in bombings targeting several churches. The attacks were claimed by Boko Haram. In some northern towns, residents report that churchgoers are staying home rather than attending services for fear of attacks. A three-day ultimatum from Boko Haram ordering southerners and Christians to relocate from the region lapsed on Wednesday. However, the region also has a strong northern Christian presence, which considered the ultimatum an empty threat. Boko Haram is against Western education and culture in the region, and wants the Islamization of all the northern states. President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to quash the movement, while declaring a state of emergency in four states. But Jonathan has been criticized for not doing enough to halt the attacks, and for telling Nigerians that terrorism is “a threat they must live with.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/OEWqG Tags: Boko Haram, Christians, featured, Nigeria Section: Latest News, Religion, West Africa
