Hundreds of residents flee Nigerian cities in fear of more violence - Telegraph.co.uk

The Islamist group Boko Haram, which has ties to al-Qaeda and aims to impose sharia law across Africa's most populous country, claimed responsibility for the attacks. Nigeria's population is 167, with just over 50 per cent Muslim, and 48 per cent Christian.

It is the second Christmas in a row that it has targeted churches with deadly results, leading to fears that it could set off a new round of sectarian clashes.

"The attack on churches is to nationalise the crisis," said Shehu Sani, a rights activist based in Nigeria's north.

"It will instigate hitherto neutral people into the crisis. Christians may want to take revenge on Muslims and this is dangerous for the country."

Asked about the status of the police investigation into the Madalla bombing, the most severe of the attacks where at least 35 people were killed, police spokesman Richard Oguche said police had not made any arrests but added that the investigation confirmed that a car bomb caused the explosion in front of St. Theresa's church.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency, or NEMA, focused on ensuring that the victims in Madalla, were receiving attention.

"Some of the dead bodies were just lying on the ground yesterday, because agencies were overstretched and there weren't enough vehicles," Yushau Shuaib, a NEMA spokesman said.

Mr Shuaib declined to comment on the emergency response to the bombings in Yobe state, of which Damaturu is the capital, where several police officers were reportedly killed, saying the situation in Boko Haram's home base was "too political."

Meanwhile the government faced accusations that it was too slow to respond to the bombings and had shown indifference.

Muhammadu Buhari, the military ruler of Nigeria from December 1983 to August 1985, who lost in his bid to become president last April to incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, said the country lacked competent enough leaders to tackle its security problems.

"How on earth would the Vatican and the British authorities speak before the Nigerian government on attacks within Nigeria that have led to the deaths of our citizens?" Mr Buhari said.

He called the response a "failure of leadership," saying the government should do more than simply spend money on security.

Mr Jonathan, a Christian, called the attacks "unfortunate", but said Boko Haram would "not be (around) forever. It will end one day," a response criticised by some as short-sighted.

John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, issued a plea for something to be done to stop the escalating violence.

"It's a national tragedy. We are all unsecured. It's not only Catholic. Today it's us. Tomorrow we don't know who it will be," he said.

He called on Islamic leaders to take an active role in seeking to end the violence.

"Whether we like it or not, this particular crime has been claimed by Boko Haram, who claimed that they are Muslims," he said.

He added: "I expect my colleagues in the Islamic community not to just sit back. This thing is giving them a bad name.

"I don't even consider them Muslim fanatics since the Islamic community has told us they are not," he said. "Whatever they are, they are criminals. They are killing innocent people."