(CNN) -- Five blasts went off in the Nigerian city of Jos Friday night as residents were celebrating Christmas Eve, leaving 31 dead, a regional government official said. 

Choji Gyang, a special adviser to the governor of Nigeria's Plateau state, said two bombs went off in the Angwa Rukuba area of Jos. Within five to 20 minutes, three more blasts happened in the area of Kabong, he said. 

"We have a lot of casualties and are struggling to cope," Gyang said. 

Hassan John, a Jos resident and journalist with the media department of the Anglican Diocese of Jos, had just come out of church about 7 p.m. (1 p.m. ET) when he heard the sound of the first explosion. He rushed to the site, which he described as a beer parlor frequented by locals. 

"By the time I got there, there were women crying, people screaming. It was all chaos, people were screaming, blood everywhere." 

"I counted eight corpses all over, seven in the building," John said. He added that a second blast went off within a couple of minutes after the first one. "We cannot say if there are more bodies under the rubble because it was dark," John said. 

Gyang, who is special adviser on religious affairs to the governor, said it was unclear who set off the blasts or whether they were related. 

"It was Christmas Eve, lots of activities was going on. People were still preparing for Christmas, lots of people were coming into town. A blast went off, those around the area -- some were killed, some injured and the houses and cars caught fire," Gyang said. He said he received reports of "a lot of dead bodies." 
Did bombs go off?
Where?
When?
During the holiday?
Were there casualties?
How many?
Who's saying all this?
Who is that?
to whom?
Who is responsible?
Were there witnesses?
What did they witness?
Who heard it?
Who is that?
Where does he work?
What did he do?
Where was it?
What did he see?
Is there a total body count?
Yes
Five blasts went off
Nigerian city of Jos
Nigerian city of Jos
Friday
Friday
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Yes
leaving 31 dead
31
leaving 31 dead
Choji Gyang
Choji Gyang
a special adviser
a special adviser
Governor of Nigeria's Plateau state
governor of Nigeria's Plateau state
It was unclear.
it was unclear who set off the blasts
Yes
Hassan John
Heard the sound of the first explosion
heard the sound of the first explosion
Hassan John
Hassan John
A Jos resident and journalist
a Jos resident and journalist
Anglican Diocese of Jos
Anglican Diocese of Jos
He rushed to the site
He rushed to the site
a beer parlor frequented by locals
a beer parlor frequented by locals
Women crying, people screaming.
women crying, people screaming
No
We cannot say if there are more bodies