At least 38 killed as car bomb targets city church

A CAR bomb has killed at least 38 people in an attack on the central Nigerian city of Kaduna, the latest violence in a region beset by religious, ethnic and political conflict.

The blast struck Kaduna yesterday, leaving charred motorcycles and debris strewn across a major road in the city where many gather to eat and buy black market petrol. Nearby hotels had their windows blown out of by the force of the powerful explosion.

At least 38 people were killed in the blast, said Abubakar Zakari Adamu, a spokesman for the Kaduna state Emergency Management Agency. Others suffered serious injuries and were receiving treatment at local hospitals, Mr Adamu said.

The explosion badly damaged the nearby All Nations Christian Assembly Church as churchgoers worshipped at an Easter service, the possible target of the bomber. Witnesses said it appeared the explosive-laden car tried to enter the church compound before it detonated.

“We were in the holy communion service and I was exhorting my people and, all of a sudden, we heard a loud noise that shattered all our windows and doors,” Pastor Joshua Raji said.

Suspicion fell on a radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram, which is waging an increasingly bloody fight with security agencies and the public.