Violence erupted this Sunday at two local churches in Nigeria, killing  less than a dozen, but injured several times more people. In retaliation, Christian youths attacked Muslim institutions, adding to the number of deaths and wounded.

Church congregants were worshipping on Sunday in Biu, a north eastern town of a Borno state, when suspected Islamist militants showered bullets down on them, killing a female worshipper. Others sustained bullet wounds in the attack. The second attack came from a suicide car bomber detonating the explosives right outside the church in Jos, Plateau State. 40 were injured, while two were killed. 

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Recently the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunnati Lidda'awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, had taken credit for the attack. Satisfied with the effort, the spokesperson of the group, Abul Qaqa also claimed the credit in customs office and another success with State Security Service (SSS) officer over the phone. Both took place on Saturday in different locations in Kano.

"By the special grace of our creator, we have today (yesterday) successfully attacked two churches in Jos and Biu," Qaqa declared.

He continued to confirm the plan to attack "As we said earlier, we would step up attacks on our enemies. This is a war between us and the Nigerian state and there is no going back."

Their success in recent events proved that the Nigerian security agencies are wrong, Qaqa added.
"They (security) claimed they have recorded over 90 percent success in their war of attrition, we want Nigerians to make deductions from what transpired recently. We would not bow out until we establish an Islamic State," he said.

Back in December, the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, responded to the constant rise in violence, declaring Nigeria to be in a state of emergency in parts of Niger, Yobe, Borno, Yob . He followed up with firing the chief of police, Hafiz Ringim, and six deputy officers. The move is "a first step towards the comprehensive reorganization and repositioning of the Nigeria police force to make it more effective and capable of meeting emerging internal security challenges," stated the government.