Bubbling christmas night church services remain absent in several northern states in Nigeria as a result of fear of Islamist militant group Boko Haram.Most northern christians fearful of bomb attacks from militants opted for daytime christmas eve service or totally shelved the christmas eve service.
Christians in northern Nigerian cities of Kaduna, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, Niger, Adamawa, Taraba, and Nasarawa did not turn up for the christmas eve service that typically last till midnight for fear of bomb attacks by Boko Haram.
In several areas in the aforementioned states, Christians are in the minority, most held church services during the day and dispersed before it dark, while in some areas most services are on but with vigilantee groups watching over church goers.
Some churches were partially filled and some closed down their churches after the evening services with guards and vigilantes watching. Boko Haram insurgents clashed with the Nigerian police and military in Maiduguri, Damaturu and Potiskum on Wednesday killing several soldiers and police in bomb attacks, official tallies counted 71 people dead including two senior police officers ambushed and killed by the Islamist militant group in Yobe.