Christmas 2011 Nigeria attacks

On 25 December 2011, a coordinated series of attacks took place during Christmas Day church services in northern Nigeria. Bomb blasts and shootings occurred at churches and related sites in Madalla, Jos, Gadaka, and Damaturu. A total of 41 people were reported dead across the incidents. The Islamist group Boko Haram later claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The most severe single attack occurred at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, a satellite town of Abuja located about 40 km (25 mi) from the capital's city center. At least 37 people died and 57 others were injured there. A local coordinator with Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the death toll. NEMA spokesperson Yushau Shuaibu said the bombing occurred on the street outside the church, which can hold 1,000 people and was badly damaged by the blast. Witnesses reported that windows of nearby houses were shattered by the explosion, and hospital officials said the condition of many injured people was serious. NEMA coordinator Slaku Luguard said rescue workers found at least 25 bodies while officials tallied the wounded across various hospitals; he noted NEMA lacked sufficient ambulances to assist the wounded, and that an angry crowd gathered at the blast site initially blocked emergency workers from reaching the area.

In Jos, an explosion hit the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, and gunmen later fired on police guarding the area, killing one police officer. Two additional bombs found in a nearby building were disarmed before detonation.

In the northeast, two explosions were reported in the city of Damaturu, and another explosion occurred at a church in the town of Gadaka. At least one of the Damaturu attacks was carried out by a suicide car bomber who rammed the building housing the headquarters of the State Security Service; at least three people were killed in that blast, while a senior military commander allegedly targeted survived.

The attacks drew condemnation from Nigerian officials, including President Goodluck Jonathan, who called the incident "unfortunate" and an "unwarranted affront on our collective safety and freedom." National Security Adviser Gen. Owoye Andrew Azazi said Boko Haram was attempting to provoke religious conflict among Nigerians and urged citizens to support security services rather than pursue retaliation. Numerous domestic organizations, foreign governments, and international and religious bodies also issued statements condemning the attacks and expressing condolences to victims' families.