According to Agenzia Fides, the streets of the capital city of Borno State, Maiduguri, in northern Nigeria were kept vehicle-free Dec. 25-28 in order to prevent suicide bombings by militant Islamist group Boko Haram.
Pastor Gideon Obasogie, Director of Communications of the Diocese of Maiduguri, said despite the lack of security due to terrorist attacks, “Christmas was celebrated with great joy and faith” by many “of whom are internally displaced persons from the Adamawa part of the diocese to express their faith in an eloquent manner.”
Elsewhere in the region, Cameroon has carried out its first air strikes against Boko Haram, killing at least 41 militants, after the insurgents had overrun a military base and attacked five villages, according to the BBC.