Boko Haram, a militant group based in Borno State whose goal is to institute sharia law on all of Nigeria,[3] has become more proficient in carrying out attacks since a 2009 clash with security forces that led to the death of its leader Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf.

The group itself has since factionalised with some allied to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and some expecting terms of agreement similar to southern Nigeria's MEND.

[5] Militants armed with automatic weapons stormed a town hall in the city of Mubi in Adamawa State where people had gathered to mourn 3 Christians shot on the previous evening.

[3] Later in the day a spokesman for Boko Haram calling himself Abu Qaqa claimed responsibility for these two incidents and the shooting during a church service in Gombi that killed six people on Thursday.

Hundreds of Christians started fleeing northern cities in the aftermath of the bombings and church officials urged people not to take part in revenge attacks.

[9] Officials in the city responded by setting a curfew[1] and by initiating armed patrols of major streets, though sporadic gunfire was still heard the next day.