Islamisten richten bloedbaden aan tijdens oudejaarsnacht in Nigeria

[Marsipulami]

Islamisten richten bloedbaden aan tijdens oudejaarsnacht in Nigeria

© ap

Bloedige oudejaarsnacht in Nigeria: bij verscheidene aanslagen zijn tientallen mensen gedood. De verdenkingen gaan in de richting van islamitische terroristen die het op christenen gemunt hebben. Bij nieuwe aanslagen in de Nigeriaanse hoofdstad Abuja werden volgens mediaberichten ongeveer dertig mensen gedood.

De internetkrant Next meldde dat 's avonds een bom ontplofte op de markt van een kazerneterrein. Daar waren talrijke mensen bijeengekomen om het nieuwe jaar onder de blote hemel te vieren. Ooggetuigen spraken van minstens 20 doden, onder wie ook veel vrouwen en kinderen.
Op het kazerneterrein leven officieren met hun gezinnen. Ook vertegenwoordigers van de diplomatieke gemeenschap houden er zich regelmatig op.

Een woordvoerder van president Goodluck Jonathan bracht de aanslagen in een eerste reactie in verband met bomaanslagen op christelijke kerken op kerstavond in de Nigeriaanse stad Jos. Daarbij werden ongeveer tachtig mensen gedood. Leden van de radicaalislamitische sekte Boko Haram pleegden de voorbije dagen bovendien in verscheidene steden aanslagen op politiebureaus.

In Nigeria kwam het de voorbije jaren telkens weer tot geweld tussen moslims en christenen, waarbij honderden doden vielen. Christenen en moslims maken in Nigeria elk de helft van de bevolking uit. (afp/mvl)

01/01/11 10u04

[Slinger]

Islamisten richten bloedbaden aan tijdens oudejaarsnacht in Nigeria

© ap

Christenen en moslims maken in Nigeria elk de helft van de bevolking uit. (afp/mvl)

01/01/11 10u04

Als het zo doorgaat zullen moslims snel in de meerderheid zijn.

[mark61]

Nigerian capital Abuja hit by barracks bomb

Several people have been killed by a bomb blast at a bar near a barracks in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

Nigeria's president condemned the attack, blaming it on Islamists who claimed responsibility for a recent bombing in the north of the country.

The explosion happened in a market where soldiers and civilians often gather to eat and drink beer.

A police spokesman said four people had died, while military sources have told the BBC 11 people were killed.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, President Goodluck Jonathan called the attacks "evil" and "wicked".

"Basking in their nefarious success in Jos on Christmas Eve, they have once again knifed at the heartstrings of a nation decked out in gaiety, celebrating New Year's Eve," he said.

An Islamic sect known as Boko Haram said it had carried out the attack in Jos, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Abuja bombing.
New year's revellers

State TV initially reported that 30 people were killed. But police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said four people had been killed - three men and one woman.

Witnesses have told the BBC they saw body parts lying on the ground and injured people being carried away after the blast.

"People ran in different directions. There were scores of bodies - dead and wounded. They used army trucks to pack them away," a market regular called Eric was quoted as telling Reuters news agency.

The area was sealed off.

Air Marshal Oluseyi Petiri said a bomb had been placed "where people were relaxing and generally being happy because of the New Year which is approaching".

He urged Nigerians to be vigilant following a recent spate of bomb attacks in a country where they had been almost unknown.

"Do not allow anybody to come and leave a bag, or any kind of object, especially when he is not there," he told state TV.

There have been bomb attacks in the capital and other cities in recent weeks:

* On Wednesday, two blasts disrupted a political rally in the southern city of Yenagoa, wounding several people
* Bomb attacks in the city of Jos, a flash-point between Nigerian Christians and Muslims, left 80 people dead over Christmas - an Islamist group said it was behind these attacks
* In October, at least 12 people were killed in explosions in Abuja as the country celebrated 50 years since independence from the UK - this was blamed on oil militants

The market is near the Sani Abacha barracks, named after Nigeria's late military dictator, in Asokoro district, home to the presidential palace and said to be the city's most secure area.

Officially renamed the Mogadishu Cantonment, the barracks is still known to many by its old name.