President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the recent terrorist attacks in both Kano and Adamawa States, as well as the kidnap of the Lamido of Kolofata in Northern Cameroon, Lamido Seini Lamine and the wife of the Vice Prime Minister of Cameroon.
In a State House release, the President described the multiple bomb blasts that occurred in Kano within 24 hours and the unrelenting attacks by the Boko Haram sect at a time the Muslim faithful are observing the holy festival of Eid-el-Fitri, as “shocking, callous and reprehensible”.
“He commiserates with the families of all those who lost their loved ones in the Kano and Adamawa attacks and wishes the injured speedy recovery,” the release signed by the President’s spokesman, Reuben Abati, stated.
A New Low
President Jonathan further noted that the “deployment of young women as suicide bombers represents a new low in the inhuman campaign by the terrorists and an expression of utter disregard for the dignity of the female gender as well as a wicked exploitation of the girl-child”.
According to the President, “the abduction of the Lamido of Kolofata and the wife of the Vice premier of Cameroon clearly underscores the regional security threat that Boko Haram has become”.
Abati noted that President Jonathan welcomed the recent resolve by the Defence Ministers of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Benin and Niger to further strengthen existing partnerships in order to forestall the desperate attempt by misguided elements to turn the sub-region into a battleground for terrorism and radical extremism.
President Jonathan urged the security forces to remain resolute, and not be discouraged by the desperation of the agents of evil, as “the continued cooperation between Nigeria’s security forces and their counterparts in neighbouring countries” will secure victory in the war against terror.
Over 50 persons, including four soldiers, were killed in Adamawa on Sunday, including four soldiers, when members of the Boko Haram terrorist group unleashed an attack on Garkiba community in Gombi Local Government Area.
While a suicide bomber killed three others at a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mega Filling Station, in Hotoro area, along Maiduguri Road, Kano.
A counter-terrorism operations has been on for over 3 years, but containing the insurgents has become more difficult than expected. The government has appealed to Nigerians to be patient, as it tries to re-kit the military, promising that the war on terror will be won.