A suicide attacker drove a car bomb into a Nigerian church yesterday, sparking fierce reprisals that saw a Christian mob burn a man alive in a day of violence that killed at least 10 people and wounded 145.

The church attack left at least seven people dead in addition to the bomber, while at least three people were killed in reprisal violence, a rescue official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to provide figures.

According to Musa Ilallah, regional coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency, the number of wounded was 145.

Christian youths took to the streets of the northern city of Kaduna with machetes and sticks after the blast, targeting those they believed to be Muslims as anger again boiled over due to repeated church bombings in recent months.

Attackers beat a motorcycle taxi driver near the church, then put his bike on top of him before dousing him with petrol and setting him on fire, an AFP correspondent who saw the violence said. Two other bloodied bodies apparently killed by the mob were seen near the church.

A rescue official on condition of anonymity also spoke of the man being burnt and said rescuers could not save him because the mob was too violent. The mob also attacked an ambulance in the ensuing violence, but there was no indication that rescuers were wounded.

President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the church attack and vowed a strengthened fight against what he called “acts of terror” in a statement that made no specific mention of reprisals.

“Our efforts to deal with all acts of terror and violence would only be redoubled even as the security agencies continue to receive all the support they need from government to reverse this unfortunate and unacceptable trend that threatens the peace and stability of our nation,” Jonathan said .

The attacker rammed an SUV into St Rita church, shaking the Malali neighbourhood of Kaduna, a city that has suffered a wave of deadly violence blamed on Islamist extremist group Boko Haram.

“All of a sudden it drove on high speed and rammed into the church wall, forcing its way into the church premises,” a witness said, adding, “Initially I thought the driver had lost control of the vehicle. Suddenly there was a huge explosion as the car reached the church building. It was dust, fire and smoke all over.”