Kaduna City in northern Nigeria is currently under a 24-hour curfew after suicide bomb attacks on three churches on Sunday 17 June sparked sectarian clashes.

On Sunday 17 June, a suicide bomber drove a car full of explosives into the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Good News Church in Wusasa, Zaria, destroying the children's church building and killing a child and a young man. Several others were wounded, including many children and CSW Nigeria's coordinator for Zaria.

Also in Zaria, two suicide bombers in separate cars targeted Christ the King Catholic Church as the congregation was leaving Mass, killing an estimated 16 people and wounding several others.

In the Trikaniya area of Kaduna City, another bomb exploded at the Shalom Pentecostal Church as ushers were interrogating the bomber, killing three.

Yunusa Nmadu, CEO of CSW Nigeria, said, "Attacks on Christians while they legitimately worship on Sundays are now a common occurrence. Unless the culture of impunity is overcome, our country will slowly slip into another civil war that will be fought along religious lines."

In a comment on the targeting of church services, the Anglican Archbishop of Jos, the Most Rev Benjamin Kwashi, said, "Weekends are now a terror for Christians in northern and central Nigeria. My heart truly bleeds at the unnecessary killings and I am deeply saddened that in a nation like Nigeria there are people who sponsor, plan, train and support people to execute evil specifically targeted against worship of God on Sundays by Christians in churches."

More lives were lost in the aftermath of the bombings as sectarian violence erupted, with angry youths taking to the streets of Sabon Tasha and Gonin Gora, in the southern part of Kaduna City, to protest the inability of the security services to prevent the bombings of churches, which have taken place every Sunday in northern Nigeria for the last three weeks. The situation was later brought under control, and a curfew imposed.

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said, "We extend our heartfelt condolences to those who have lost loved ones in these senseless attacks and urge Christians worldwide to unite in prayer and solidarity with Christians in northern and central Nigeria. After multiple attacks by suicide bombers or gunmen on churches in these areas in the last few weeks, frustration is mounting in these communities, resulting in sectarian clashes, which are effectively unravelling local peace initiatives and creating an atmosphere for further conflict. The Nigerian government must ensure the safety of innocent civilians in these communities and see to it that the perpetrators of violence are prevented from carrying out these attacks, apprehended and brought to justice along with their funders and known patrons."

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.