Explosion hits Catholic church in central Nigeria town where thousands killed in past violence

Emergency officials say an explosion has struck a Catholic church in a central Nigeria town where thousands have died in recent years in ethnic violence.

Yushau Shuaib, a spokesman for Nigeria's national emergency management agency said the blast struck the St. Sinba Catholic Church in Jos on Sunday. He had no further details.

Plateau state spokesman Pam Ayuba confirmed an explosion had taken place but said officials had no immediate information about injuries.

Jos and surrounding Plateau state have been torn apart in recent years by violence pitting its different ethnic groups and major religions — Christianity and Islam — against each other. Human Rights Watch says at least 1,000 people were killed in communal clashes around Jos in 2010.