Buhari Talks Tough, Gives the Military dealine to Crush Boko Haram

Firstclass newsline gathered that president Buhari Commiserates with
victims of the Nyanya and Kuje bomb blasts at the National Hospital
Abuja alongside Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of
Ogun state amongst others on 4th October 2015
•FG to pay medical bills of survivors
•Abuja malls, plazas, markets under surveillance
•IG: Abuja security lock-down is for safety of the public
Tobi Soniyi, Senator Iroegbu, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Chineme Okafor in
Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri
President Muhammadu Buhari on sunday visited the survivors of last
Friday night's bomb attacks in Nyanya and Kuje who are receiving
treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja with a firm reassurance to
them that the federal government would take full responsibility for
their medical bills.
Prior to the visit, the president in a statement personally signed by
him, condemned in the strongest terms the latest terror attacks across
the country.
The president subsequently ordered the Armed Forces to crush what
remains of Boko Haram, the perpetrators of the violence.
Buhari said: "These cowardly attacks expose the real face of the
planners and perpetrators of these crimes. What quarrel do they have
with the good people of Nyanya Motor Park? What issue do they have
with innocent people in market places in Maiduguri, Yola and Kuje?
"It is clear that this battle is not ideological. It is between the
forces of peace and order and the evil forces of murder and
destruction. Security forces and other local authorities have been
instructed to maintain extra vigilance to forestall future attacks.
"The Armed Forces have been empowered to crush what remains of Boko
Haram. This government is determined to stamp out Boko Haram and all
other terrorists of whatever persuasions and bring all sponsors to
justice."
During the visit to the survivors of the Abuja attacks which claimed
20 lives, Buhari wished them full and speedy recovery.
He commiserated with the families of the dead and prayed for the
speedy recovery of the injured.
The president also directed his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, to
settle the N268,790 medical bill of a young girl in the Paediatric
Ward of the hospital.
The girl's mother, Deborah Stephen, had broken into tears on seeing
the president.
She told him that her daughter had been shot by armed robbers who
raided their home and that the family could not afford the medical
bills.
The president, who was accompanied by his personal aides and Governor
Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, visited the Intensive Care Unit,
Paediatric Unit and general wards of the hospital.
The Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Dr. Jafaru Momoh,
expressed appreciation and said Buhari's visit would boost the
recovery of the patients by giving them a greater psychological sense
of being valued and loved by their country.
The attacks in Maiduguri, Yola and Abuja were apparently timed to
coincide with the country's Independence Day celebrations.
Abuja malls, plazas, markets under surveillance…
Meanwhile, there was heightened presence of security men at strategic
locations in Abuja yesterday, following the multiple blasts on Friday
night in Kuje and Nyanya.
There was also an extension of security checks that started on
Saturday morning in various parts of Abuja to shopping plazas and
markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
There were more soldiers, men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as
well as other security and intelligence personnel in strategic
locations along the major corridors of the nation's capital.
Early on Saturday morning, there were strict stop-and-search
operations on all vehicles around the Banex Plaza section of Wuse II,
which was a scene of the devastating blasts last year.
Similarly, there were police checks at the popular Utako Market, Wuse
Market and surrounding shopping malls.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO), Guards Brigade, the military wing
responsible for the security of the President and FCT, Captain Bashir
Jajira, while speaking to a source on the development stated that it
was a routine "but special operation".
Jajira said that the move was necessitated by the need to secure
public centres that might be targeted by the terrorists, as experience
had shown.
The Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig-Gen. Musa Yusuf, had on Saturday,
assured Nigerians, especially FCT residents of improved security
measures in and around the nation's capital.
Yusuf in response to the source enquiries allayed the fear that
movement around the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja could
be under security threat following the bombings of nearby Kuje town.
He urged both the Abuja residents and visitors to go about their
normal business, assuring them that the Federal Capital "was secure
and would remain even more secure".
IG: Abuja security lock-down is for safety of the public…
The Inspector General of Police (IG) Solomon Arase yesterday told
THISDAY that the current security lock-down in Abuja is for the safety
of all Nigerians.
He said: "Yes we are scaling up security and implementing a general
lock-down in the Abuja metropolis. This is not road block as is being
misconstrued but part of our disruptive strategy to ensure that
terrorists are not given a breathing space to carry out their mindless
attacks.
"Our men have been instructed to be polite to members of the public in
carrying out the stop-and-search operation which may have some minor
inconveniences. But I am using this medium to inform members of the
public that this is for their safety.
"As you may know, even in advanced countries where acts of terrorism
are seen to occur, this disruptive strategy is used to checkmate their
activities. We are more interested in the safety of the public."
Multiple explosions on the outskirts of Maiduguri…
In a related development, multiple explosions were heard yesterday
morning on the outskirts of Maiduguri, a city that had been attacked
repeatedly by terrorists.
But the army said the blasts, which had forced some residents of the
city to flee, were a result of the test-firing of weapons during
military exercises in the area.
Residents said the explosions were heard from the areas of Kayamla and
Dalori, three days after the insurgents attacked Maiduguri, leaving 14
people dead and many injured.
"We are not sure whether the terrorists are planning to invade the
town but the vibration is devastating," said Kursi Yusuf, an employee
of the University of Maiduguri.
Khadija Mustapha, a resident of Dalori Quarters, 11 kilometres from
Maiduguri, said she had fled her home with her three daughters for
fear of being caught in the explosions.
"I don't know what will happen. The sound of the explosives was really
disturbing. Many of us have vacated our homes," she said.
But the army said it was conducting military exercises in the volatile
city and urged residents not to panic.
"It is a routine test-firing of our weapons to ensure they are in a
state of readiness," Colonel Tukur Gusau, spokesman for the Nigerian 7
Division in Maiduguri, told AFP.
Earlier, a military officer who did not want to be named had confirmed
the series of blasts but said troops were on top of the situation.
"The terrorists will not have their way," he told AFP.
PDP governors condemn Kuje, Nyanya bombings...
Also yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum
under the leadership of Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State condemned the
recent bombings in Kuje and Nyanya, describing it "as cowardly,
brutish and offensive to the collective well-being of all Nigerians".
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Coordinator of the
forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, the PDP governors questioned whatever motive
that could justify the spilling of innocent blood.
The statement called on Buhari and the security agencies to continue
their efforts at bringing to justice those who continue to terrorise
the nation, adding that the PDP governors would continue to support
any such effort aimed at bringing peace and security to all Nigerians.
While sympathising with the families of the victims of the bombings,
the PDP governors also called on Nigerians to be vigilant and report
any suspicious movements to the security agencies.
NLC: Abuja blasts, attempt to mock recent feats over Boko Haram…
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday described the recent
multiple bomb blasts in Abuja as attempts by Boko Haram to make a
mockery of the recent reported victories recorded by the Nigerian
military over them.
NLC in this regard asked the Nigerian military to remain resolute in
their fight against the group. It also requested the government to
renew its efforts in the fight against terrorism by undertaking
comprehensive investigation of several acts of terrorism in the
country with the aim of bringing to book people who are found guilty
of aiding terrorists.
A statement from the central labour house in Abuja, quoted its
President, Ayuba Wabba, to have said that the terrorists had by their
renewed bombing of Abuja, aim to portray to the world a false picture
that Nigeria is unsafe for its citizens and visitors.
Wabba thus requested that the development should not dampen the morale
of the military.
While calling for thorough investigation of acts of terrorism in the
country, Wabba said: "Beyond these, we urge our government to order
the immediate reinvestigation, arrest and prosecution of all those
previously indicted of sponsoring terror gangs, especially Boko Haram
and other such violent groups in any part of the country.
"The freedom of those who sponsor deadly violence put the entire
country seated on timed bombs that can explode at will. No matter how
highly placed, whoever have been indicted should immediately be
apprehended and reinvestigated now.
"We urge all Nigerians to see the battle against terrorism as our
collective battle and therefore every resident must make information
about suspicious movements or behaviours in and around them available
to relevant security agencies who must act on such information in our
collective national interests.
"We condole with the families of all the victims of these attacks and
urge government to ensure provision of the best medical attention and
treatment to the injured.
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