A bomb has exploded near a church in a remote part of northern Nigeria, leaving three people dead and several others wounded, local police say.

The attack occurred in Bauchi city on Sunday after a bomber blew himself up close to a Catholic church in the Wunti area of Bauchi state, Yushua Shuaib, Reuters reported.

According to the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency, rescue workers have transfered the dead and the injured. However, casualty figure cannot be determined now.

Although no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, authorities usually hold the Boko Haram militant group accountable for such attacks.


The extremist group has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly gun and bomb attacks in various parts of Nigeria since 2009.

The Boko Haram has also carried out a number of similar attacks against churches in different parts of Africa's biggest oil producer in recent months.

In a similar incident, at least 19 people, including a priest were killed and more than a dozen others injured after gunmen attacked a church in central Nigeria last month.

The incident occurred when attackers opened fire on worshipers in Kogi state, about 250 kilometers southwest of Nigeria's capital Abuja.

The group has also attacked Muslim figures as well as a range of other targets, including the United Nations building in the capital Abuja.

Nigeria has been witnessing growing instances of sectarian violence.

Human rights groups report that violent actions by Boko Haram since mid-2009 have claimed more than 1,000 lives, including over 300 this year alone.

20120924
Press TV