Despite the recent upsurge in the activities of gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram, the government yesterday assured Nigerians and the international community that the country is safe.
Government also said it had acquired sophisticated equipment to carry out proper intelligence gathering to nip activities of gunmen in the bud.
Yesterday, about 50 gunmen attacked a Borno state town which shares border with Cameroun. Three churches, a police station and an office of Nigerian Immigration Service were attacked. The churches were set on fire by men chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is great).
Last week, gunmen attacked a church inside the top military training institution – the Command and Staff College, Jaji in Kaduna State – which also houses a military post and the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) facility in Abuja where inmates were freed.
Auchi, the major town in Edo North, was under bombardment of gunmen who attacked a police station, banks and other places in hours of raid.
But, in a statement by Dr. Doyin Okupe, the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, The Presidency said everything is under control.
The statement said: “In the last few days the nation has witnessed attacks in strategic places-The Military Church in Jaji and the SARS Headquarters in Abuja.
“It is in the character of insurgency worldwide to audaciously attack institutions that will promote maximum fears in the heart of the citizenry. It will be recalled that in its last days, the IRA bombed the hotel in which the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher and core members of her Cabinet were holding a meeting.
“It is not surprising therefore that as a consequence of the recent activities of the insurgents; some dailies reported that “nowhere Is safe in Nigeria.” In truth and in reality this statement is not correct.
“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan wishes to assure Nigerians that in spite of this situation, the country is still largely safe and secure.
“President Jonathan wishes to state categorically of his unwavering commitment and determination to fight insecurity wherever they are found in Nigeria.
“Government efforts and preparedness will be further enhanced to ensure the security of lives and property of all Nigerians, irrespective of their locations within the country.
“As for intelligence gathering, the Government has acquired and deployed highly sophisticated security equipment and members of the security agencies have received and continue to receive adequate training such that our intelligence gathering capacity has witnessed a monumental increase in capacity to gather information.
“This is why over 70 per cent of the activities of the Boko Haram and other sinister plans are aborted before they occur. But, unfortunately, these are not made known to members of the public.
“The President wishes to assure Nigerians that Government will not rest but will continue to work tirelessly with all the security agencies in the country to bring to a complete end as soon as possible, cases of insecurity, while those found guilty to have perpetrated criminality and acts of terrorism either by promoting it actively or passively engaged in it, are made to face the full wrath of the law.
“However, it is in times like this that we need the fire of patriotism naturally within us as Nigerians, as individual citizens, organisations including the media, to bring us together as a nation and rally round the Government in its efforts to root out the criminal elements within our society.
“We should not allow fear and despair to overcome us rather we should draw strength from our well-known spirit of nationalism and forebearance to support the Government and the security agencies in their effort to curb the menace.
“The media particularly should join hands and key-in into the transformation agenda and ensure that sensational reports that could tarnish our image and bring the country into disrepute and create anxiety and panic are avoided as much as possible.
“This Government is committed to moving the country forward. The reform in the power, Agricultural sector and current infrastructural rehabilitation and development are taking shape and these will encourage the growth of local enterprise and increase in foreign direct investment in an unprecedented manner which will in turn provide more jobs, create wealth amongst the citizenry and reduce tendencies towards criminality and other social malaise in our nation.”
According to residents of Gamboru Ngala – 140 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the gunmen set fire to churches and the border post office. But it could not be ascertained if there were casualties.
Around 50 gunmen in cars and on motorcycles carried out the attacks on three churches and opened fire on policemen while chanting Allahu Akbar (God is Great).
Among the security posts burned were offices for immigration, customs and the secret police and a quarantine building in the town.
“The gunmen believed to be Boko Haram were around 50 in number and came in cars and on motorcyles around 8:30 am and attacked the security offices at the border posts, burning them,” resident Modugana Ibrahim told AFP.
“They opened fire on the security personnel but it is hard to say if anybody was hurt or killed,” Ibrahim said.
Another resident, Hamidu Ahmad, said the gunmen went into town “chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and burnt down the divisional police station and three churches”. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Does the President read News papers or listen to News? How can he tell us Nigeria is safe when We hear of assault, bomb blast, murder, kidnapping and robbery everyday? I don't understand Mr. President at all. His pronouncements are always wrong. It seems he does not get his facts before talking to Nigerians. We are in a wrong hand. May God help us in ds country.
ReplyDeleteJohnathan is a fool
ReplyDeleteI need somebody that is very close to GEJ to ask him one question on behalf of poor Nigerians and post the response via this media .My Question goes thus ,
ReplyDeleteWHAT ARE YOU DOING IN ASO ROCK ?
I will be waiting for response .
Thank you
Today, people are not talking against him. We all voted him in. Lets wait till his term ends. There is not good about Goodluck. It is just pathetic. I really thank God that I didnt vote for him.
ReplyDeleteThis is the unsafest Nigeria has been since the civil war. The most prominent business men in Edo state with mobile police men attached to them were kidnapped. If Nigeria is so safe they should drop their large police. Military. And SS security detail.
ReplyDeleteGoodluck, you failed to fight corruption, unemployment and Several injuistice in the Country ..........No miracle expect God divine intervention. the rate of unemployment in the country is so great like never before. Nigerian problom is very big but smaller for GOD fix.
ReplyDeleteGo back to God's principles.
I hope Mr Presido is speaking with his full senses and sincerity. If he believes that the country is still safe, I suggest he should mobe from Aso Rock to Jos or Borno or Bauchi like every other Nigerian living there and tell me the country is safe. I am so disappointed with this statement. Perherps its because he hasn't lost and of his family or relative to the so called Unknown Gun Men that's been on rampage. And if ds guy believes what he just told them to tell us, no wonder there has been no concrete result of actions to erase Boko Haram.
ReplyDeleteOh Boy, we don get ds President, I hope d country doesn't fall to pieces at the end of his f**kn tenure.
Tolu
I hope Mr Presido is speaking with his full senses and sincerity. If he believes that the country is still safe, I suggest he should move from Aso Rock to Jos or Borno or Bauchi like every other Nigerian living there and tell me the country is safe. I am so disappointed with this statement. Perherps its because he hasn't lost and of his family or relative to the so called Unknown Gun Men that's been on rampage. And if ds guy believes what he just told them to tell us, no wonder there has been no concrete result of actions to erase Boko Haram.
ReplyDeleteOh Boy, we don get ds President, I hope d country doesn't fall to pieces at the end of his f**kn tenure.
Tolu
Nigerians let us be patient with GEJ,so many piwerfull people are against his govt.and they are struggling with all their powers to bring this govnt.down.
ReplyDeleteMy prayer for the president is courage and wisdom of GOD, because I know all this people killing innocent people are not doing all this for Our interest bit theirs.
Let us continue to pray for our country.
PLS. LET'S STOP DISTURBING GOD FOR NIGERIA ISSUES, GOD HAS DONE HIS OWN PART FOR US.LET OUR LEADERS DO THEIR OWN PART. HV SAID IT TIMES WITHOUT NUMBER THAT GEJ DOES NOT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO RULE NIGERIA.HE IS NOT INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO RULE A COUNTRY LIKE NIGERIA.LOOK AT FASHOLA, BUKOLA SARAKI ETC THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SOME THING IN THEIR BRAIN NOT BRAINLESSS GEJ.FROM CONCERNED NIGERIAN.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned,dis guy is a hopeless case,his dog (dr doyin okupe) is just doing wat he's paid to do,I mean wat is he in office for? He did d same during obj's tenure too so his statements come as no surprise,but I know its only a matter of time b4 dis country rises up against bad leadership cos dats d only problem we've had since independence,I wldnt loose sleep over statements made by jonathan cos they're no different frm d rantings of a madman
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mr. President in toto. What do u all expect when he has not felt the pain directly?. Until those bombers with misplaced intentions bomb his country home or Aso Rock villa, Nigeria will still be safe for him. Mtcheeeew.
ReplyDelete