Terror attacks across Nigeria by a radical Muslim sect have killed at least 39 people. The majority died on the steps of a Catholic church as a massive explosion occured during Christmas Mass. Islamist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the five attacks, two of which resulted in deaths.

Terror attacks across Nigeria by a radical Muslim sect have killed at least 39 people.

The first explosion on Sunday struck Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, a town in Niger state close to the capital, Abuja. The attack killed 35 people and wounded another 52.

Rescue workers recovered at least 25 bodies from the church and officials continued to tally those wounded in various hospitals.

A rescue worker said, "Households, entire households gone. The two very close to the front in there - the first ones there - there were five people (in the family). And the people on the (inaudible) were three. All gone."

Nigeria's Emergency services acknowledged they didn't have enough ambulances immediately on hand to cope with the wounded, but added that an angry crowd that gathered at the blast site hampered rescue efforts as they refused to allow workers inside.

In Jos, a second explosion struck near the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church.

Authorities say gunmen later opened fire on police guarding the area, killing one police officer. Two other locally made explosives were later found in a nearby building and disarmed.

Charles Ezeocha, Military Taskforce Spokesperson, said, "We lost one policemen and we have made four arrests. I think it is a headway and we can use them to get more information and then work on that."

The city of Jos is located on the dividing line between Nigeria's predominantly Christian south and Muslim north where thousands have died in communal clashes over the last decade.

The Christmas Day attacks are being seen as a sign of the national ambitions of the sect known as Boko Haram, which has been responsible for at least 491 killings this year alone.