Christian shops set ablaze in Nigeria

Christian shops were burnt and hundreds of residents sought to flee one violence-torn city in Nigeria's northeast, residents said Monday, after deadly Christmas attacks shook the country.

Residents of a northeastern Nigerian city and police sources said about 30 Christian shops burned on Sunday night, while a supermarket and the home of a local Christian leader were also set ablaze.

"A supermarket was also burnt. A one-story building belonging to a Christian was also set on fire. We succeeded in putting out the fire at the house of the Igbo (Christian) chief. There was minimal damage to the house", an eye-witness said.

A police source, requesting anonymity, confirmed that no casualties were reported.

"It's unfortunate that we could not make any arrests because the arsonists fled as soon as they set the buildings on fire," the source said.

Nigeria was hit by a wave of bomb attacks, killing 40 people, blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram on Christmas day. Amongst the blasts, is one that ripped through a crowd of worshippers leaving a church outside the capital.