Nigerian troops sent into the streets to restore peace in Kaduna have succeeded in restraining angry Christian youths who launched a reprisal attack on Muslims following this morning’s suicide bomb attack on a Catholic Church in the North-Western state.

“The youths were intent on avenging the attack but the soldiers have taken control of everywhere,” a Kaduna resident who spoke with News Express on phone said. “As I speak with you, everywhere is calm,” the source, who is a community leader in the Christian-dominated Kaduna South, added.

A lone suicide bomber had around 9:00 a.m. driven at high speed and rammed into the wall of St. Rita Catholic Church, Malali, killing at least three people and injuring about 20. Unconfirmed reports put the figures at 10 dead and 145 wounded after the counter-attack before a joint military and police patrol team blocked all roads leading to Malali and neighbouring villages.

Though no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Christians believe it was perpetrated by the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, which has conducted a campaign of violence in northern Nigeria since 2009, killing hundreds of people, mainly Christians who suffer unprovoked attacks while in church.

*Photo, courtesy PM News: Angry Christian youths spoiling for vengeance.