The Nigerian Police in of Bauchi revealed that they had foiled a bomb attempt in a large crowded church, on Monday, January 31, 2011.

The director of the State Security Service [SSS] in Bauchi said the device was brought into the United Methodist Church during a packed Sunday service. The security forces were tipped off and bomb disposal experts were able to detonate it safely.

"The perpetrators of this act are terrorists. We have detonated the bomb. The impact would have been devastating," SSS director Adeola Ajayi said.

The recent foiled bomb attempt is coming on the heels of another round of violent upsurge in Nigeria's northern cities of Borno and Jos, which has claimed over 19 people and an ANPP governorship candidate in Borno state.

Several houses and places of worship were torched in the clashes, which began early last Thursday, leading the police to call in reinforcements from the northern states of Gombe and Kano and the local government to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew.