Militants kill 60 in Nigeria

Jos, July 6

A day of extremist violence against both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria killed more than 60 people, including worshipers in a mosque who came to hear a cleric known for preaching peaceful coexistence of all faiths.

Militants from Boko Haram were blamed for the suicide bombings Sunday night at a crowded mosque and a posh Muslim restaurant in the central city of Jos; a suicide bombing earlier at an evangelical Christian church in Potiskum city, and attacks in several northeastern villages where dozens of churches and about 300 homes were torched.

President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attacks on places of worship and said the government will defend Nigerians' right to worship freely.

It was the latest spasm of violence by Boko Haram extremists who have killed about 300 people in the past week apparently after an order by the self-proclaimed Islamic State group for more mayhem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier this year, Boko Haram became an affiliate of the Islamic State group. The deadliest attack came on Wednesday when more than 140 people were killed — mostly men and boys mowed down by gunfire as they prayed in mosques in the northeastern town of Kukawa.

Burials were held Monday for 51 people killed by the two bombings a day earlier in the city of Jos, said Muslim community lawyer Ahmed Garba.

Another 67 people were wounded, according to Abdussalam Mohammed, the National Emergency Management Agency coordinator.

The explosion at the Yantaya Mosque came as cleric Sani Yahaya was addressing the worshippers, survivors said. Yahaya is the national chairman of the Jama'atu Izalatul Bidia organization, which preaches that all religions should peacefully coexist.

Garba said gunmen also opened fire on the mosque from three directions.

Survivor Danladi Sani said he saw a man dressed in white take aim at Yahaya, and then blow himself up. Yahaya was unharmed, Sani added. — AP