Christmas church bombings put global spotlight on 'Nigerian Taliban' (VIDEO)
The US is pledging to help Nigeria identify those responsible for a series of attacks that left at least 40 people dead on Christmas day.
Christmas bombing: Onlookers gather around a destroyed car at the site of a bomb blast at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Nigeria, Christmas day. The explosion ripped through a Catholic church during Christmas Mass killing at least 40 people, officials said.
Sunday Aghaeze/AP
Nigerian officials and world leaders offered condemnation on Monday for those responsible for a string of Christmas day bombings across Nigeria that killed at least 40 people and injured dozens. The worst attack occurred at a church near the nation鈥檚 capital of Abuja.
The attacks were pinned to Boko Haram, a Nigerian Islamic extremist organization that also claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Nigeria during Christmas Eve last year.
Coming just days after 60 people died in a gun battle between the Islamic insurgents and government forces, the Christmas attack has shone harsh light to mounting tensions in Nigeria and raised concerns that more attacks could be soon to come.
鈥淣颈驳别谤颈补 in the area of security and guarantee freedom of movement and worship,鈥� said the Rev. Isaac Achi, the priest from the bombed church, according to the Los Angeles Times.听
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Including the Christmas bombing, Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for attacks that resulted in the death of 504 people in Nigeria this year alone. The group, which has been nicknamed the 鈥�,鈥� aims to bring the African nation under Islamic law, reports the Daily Telegraph. Africa鈥檚 biggest oil producer and most populous nation, 狈颈驳别谤颈补鈥檚 northern region is predominately Muslim while the southern half of the country is mostly 海角大神.
Scores killed in months
Though Boko Haram has existed since 2002, Australia鈥檚 Sky News reports that violence attributed to the group has risen sharply in recent months. In a series of the group has killed more than 280 people since November. The government has made a number of well-publicized arrests of Boko Haram members and raided some of their bomb making factories, but it appears to have had little impact on the group鈥檚 operational capabilities.
Several prominent Nigerians have openly criticized the government following the Christmas attack, saying it lacks the 鈥渃ompetent鈥� leadership required to effectively solve the country鈥檚 security problems.
鈥淭his is clearly a at a time the government needs to assure the people of the capacity to guarantee the safety of lives and property,鈥� said Muhammadu Buhari, a former Nigerian presidential candidate in an article by Reuters.
Though Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the attacks and there are many other indications that the group is likely behind them, there remains some speculation that another anti-government group may have carried out the bombings.
鈥淲e are because other people bent on destabilizing the government might be doing these things in the name of Boko Haram,鈥� said Richard Oguche, a Nigerian police spokesman told Agence France-Presse.
Boko Haram's real name
The name of the group Boko Haram roughly translates to "." According to John Campbell, former US ambassador to Nigeria, "they don't call themselves Boko Haram at all. They call themselves roughly, the way of the Sunna and Jihad. Sunna here refers to law."
Boko Haram, explains Mr. Campbell, is a moniker given by the media and government officials, who often reflexively blame the group for violent incidents that happen in the north.
狈颈驳别谤颈补鈥檚 President Goodluck Jonathan spoke out against the attacks, calling them 鈥� on our [狈颈驳别谤颈补鈥檚] collective safety and freedom,鈥� reports the BBC. He added, 鈥淣颈驳别谤颈补ns must stand as one to condemn them.鈥�
World leaders from the United Nations, the United States, Europe, and the Vatican, among others were quick to offer their support to the Nigerian government. White House officials called the attack 鈥渟enseless鈥� and pledged to help bring those who perpetrated it to justice, reports Al Jazeera.
鈥淲e are of the Nigerian Church and the entire Nigerian people so tried by terrorist violence, even in these days that should be of joy and peace,鈥� said Vatican spokesman聽Federico Lombardi.
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