Lagos, Nigeria - Three separate blasts in the West African state of Nigeria on Christmas Day on Sunday have left more than two dozen people dead, according to police and rescue officials. The death toll in the attack on a church in Madalla, near the Nigerian capital city of Abuja, has risen to 25 and could be higher, according to rescue officials. The official News Agency of Nigeria quoted Mr Slaku Luggard, the Abuja Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Coordinating Agency, NEMA, as saying 25 body bags have been collected so far in the rescue operation.

He said the number of casualty may increase as rescue progresses.

According to some of the worshippers quoted by NAN, more than 200 members of the church are still missing.

Meanwhile, the police have said one policeman was killed in the second blast in the northern city of Jos which also targeted a church, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church.

The third attack in Damaturu, capital of northern Yobe state, left at least three dead.

According to police sources, two bombs went off in the city on Sunday

In the first one, a suicide bomber targeted the offices of the State Security Service (SSS), killing the suicide bomber and two others.

The casualty figure from the second attack that targeted a police station in Damaturu is not yet known.

In the meantime, the Islamic sect Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the simultaneous attacks.

According to the Daily Trust newspaper, Boko Haram spokesman Abul Qaqa, the sect coordinated the attacks.

Pana 25/12/2011