Twin Car Bombs Rock Nigerian Military Church, 11 Dead

Kaduna, Nigeria — At least 11 people were killed and dozens more injured when a suicide bomber rammed a bus into a military church and another detonated an explosives-packed car minutes later in Nigeria on Sunday.

The attacks occurred at a church on a military base in northern Nigeria on Sunday. The first attack happened minutes after Sunday mass in Jaji and it the latest in a string of attacks against Christian churches in the area, reports The Associated Free Press.

The first explosion didn’t cause any casualties but it drew people who were leaving the church toward the area near the second blast. A military spokesman announced that some of those killed were soldiers, though he declined to say how many.

It is also not immediately clear how the bombers were able to enter the military barracks. Civilians are often allowed inside military barracks in Nigeria, but security has been tightened because of repeated attacks by Islamists.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Bola Koleoso stated:

“There were twin suicide bombings today at St. Andrew Military Protestant Church. A bus first ran into the church and exploded about five minutes after service while a Toyota Camry parked outside the church detonated 10 minutes later.”

Bloomberg BusinessWeek notes that there was no immediate claim of responsibility from any group, but the attack is believed to have been caused by Boko Haram. The radical Islamist group has claimed responsibility for other attacks in the past that have targeted Nigerian military institutions.

The attack is also two days after a special military taskforce announced it will offer $1.8 million in rewards for information leading to the capture of top Boko Haram members.

The twin suicide bombings on Sunday took place just one month after another was attacked in the city of Kaduna, which is about 25 miles away from Jaji.