KadunaA car bomb killed 16 people and wounded dozens more in the northern Nigerian town of Kaduna yesterday, after security officers stopped the vehicle carrying it from approaching a church, witnesses and police said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the apparent targeting of a Christian place of worship on Easter Sunday will stir memories of a string of deadly assaults by Islamist militants Boko Haram on Christmas Day last year.
A spokesman for the Kaduna state emergency management agency said 16 people had so far been confirmed dead, while 35 more were critically injured.
Kaduna police commissioner Mohammad Jinjiri Abubakar said police were pursuing a “suspect vehicle” when it crashed into another car and caused a “massive” explosion.
He did not say whether they knew who was behind the attack or what the bomb was intended for. Local residents said the bomber had tried to enter a church with his vehicle but was turned back at a police roadblock and then pursued. – (Reuters)