Six people killed after gunmen storm Nigerian church

Boko Haram issues ultimatum for Christians living in largely Muslim north to leave - or be killed

In the latest round of violence directed at Nigerian Christians, gunmen stormed a church service in the northern city of Gombe and shot and killed six people. There are growing fears of sectarian conflict in Nigeria's chiefly Muslim north.?

The attack took place at the Deeper Life Christian Ministry Church. Church pastor John Jauro said chaos broke out during the bloodbath. Jauro said that his wife was among the dead.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The attack took place at the Deeper Life Christian Ministry Church. Church pastor John Jauro said chaos broke out during the bloodbath. Jauro said that his wife was among the dead.

"It was around 7:30 p.m.," Pastor Jauro told AFP. "I was leading the congregation in prayers. Our eyes were closed when some gunmen stormed the church and opened fire on the congregation. Six people were killed in the attack."

Gombe State Police Spokesman Ahmed Muhammad confirmed that six people died following the shootings and that eight others were wounded.

Police said an investigation was ongoing, but declined to say whether the militant Islamist group Boko Haram was suspected.

The church massacre came after a purported spokesman for Boko Haram issued a three-day ultimatum for Christians living in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north to leave the region -- or face violent death.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency this weekend in parts of four states hit hard by violence blamed on Boko Haram, particularly Christmas bombings that killed at least 40 people. Gombe was outside the areas affected by the state of emergency decree.

Bomb blasts additionally struck two northeastern cities that are included in the emergency declaration.

No casualties were reported after the bomb attacks in Maiduguri and Damaturu, claimed by the same purported spokesman for Boko Haram who issued the ultimatum to Christians.

Boko Haram's name loosely translates to "Western education is sacrilege." The group has carried out a succession of recent attacks in the country as part of its campaign to implement strict Shariah law across Nigeria, a multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people, by far Africa's most populated.

Nigerian police blocked protesters from marching to the capital's main parade ground last week as part of demonstrations over rising fuel prices which have sparked nationwide outrage.

Forty protesters sought to march to Eagle Square in the capital when police blocked the road and prevented them, an AFP correspondent reported.

In Nigeria's northern city of Kano, at least 300 people were wounded and 19 arrested and later released as police fired tear gas and beat protesters to force them out of a square they had occupied in an overnight sit-in.

? 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions For January 2012
General Intention: Victims of Natural Disasters.
That the victims of natural disasters may receive the spiritual and material comfort they need to rebuild their lives.
Missionary Intention: Dedication to Peace.
That the dedication of Christians to peace may bear witness to the name of Christ before all men and women of good will.

Source: http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=44318&wf=rsscol

menorah chanukah chanukah david archuleta david archuleta hobbit trailer greenhill