By Lawal Dogara
(Updated) President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has extended his heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of Kano State over the heinous attack on the Central Mosque in Kano, earlier today.
A statement by Presidential Spokesman ,Reuben Abati said , Jonathan “ commiserates with all the families who lost their loved ones. The President calls on relief agencies and medical personnel to deploy every possible effort to assist the injured, and the general public to heed the call for the donation of blood by the hospitals where the injured are being treated.
“The President has further directed the security agencies to launch a full-scale investigation and to leave no stone unturned until all agents of terror undermining the right of every citizen to life and dignity, are tracked down and brought to justice.
The statement said further “The President reaffirms that terrorism in all its forms and manifestation is a despicable and unjustifiable threat to our society. He reiterates the determination of the government to continue to take every step to put an end to the reprehensible acts of all groups and persons involved in acts of terrorism.
President Jonathan called on all Nigerians not to despair in this moment of great trial in our nation’s history but to remain united to confront the common enemy.
Jonthan said he is confident that no terrorist act against fellow citizens will destroy the Nigerian spirit to remain positive, resolute and united in the quest for lasting peace and security in the country.
He appealed to all Nigerians to remain vigilant and cooperate actively with our security agencies to win the on-going war against terror.
Also ,forrmer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the latest bomb blasts at the Kano Central Mosque on Friday, November 28, 2014.
The former Vice President also condemned previous bomb blasts in Kontagora (Niger) and Maiduguri, capital of Borno.
In a statement in Abuja by his media office, the former Vice President said he was devastated personally by the frequency and brutality of terrorist attacks on innocent people, adding that this ceaseless violence achieves nothing.
According to him, the attacks on mosques, churches, schools, bus stations, markets, shopping plazas and other heavy human targets, defy the teachings of all known religions of the world.
The former Vice President said his heart always bleeds at this senseless violence, adding that it was high time the Boko Haram terrorists abandoned violence and embraced peace once and for all.
While calling on Nigerians to be more vigilant and share human intelligence, he at the same time called on the country’s security forces to be ahead of the terrorists with better strategies.
While acknowledging that terrorism is a relatively new security challenge, he said more efforts are needed to improve detection of terrorists before they reach their targets.
He called for rigorous public education to help ordinary Nigerians identify suicide bombers before they reach their intended targets.
He regretted that many ordinary Nigerians behave indifferently in the presence of terrorists because they lack trained eyes to detect terrorists.
The former Vice President, while commending the sacrifices of our security forces, called for faster and more rigorous response to terrorist threats. He explained that the ease with which terrorists break through security checkpoints.
He expressed his condolences to the people and government of Kano State, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the Kano Emirate and the families of all those who may have been killed in the heinous attacks in Kano, Kontagora and Maiduguri.
Equally, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has condemned the multiple blasts which claimed dozens of life in Kano Friday, saying the attacks were despicable and acts of cowardice.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal urged the citizens to be extra vigilant, adding that the synergy between the security agencies and the larger populace should be strengthened with a view to apprehending trouble makers before they strike.
According to him, efforts to tackle the war on terrorism is only as good as the intelligence gathered, as such more needs to be done to preempt future attacks.
“In that regard, the House of Representatives will continue to play its part to support the security agencies and both the Federal and State Governments to find lasting solutions to the problem,” the Speaker stated.
While condoling with the government and people of Kano over the attacks, Tambuwal appealed to all citizens to open their hearts and come to the aide of those injured.
In the same vein, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has expressed its sympathy over the bomb blast in Kano central mosque which led to the killing of many Muslims.
Speaking in an interview in Kaduna the NJI secretary General,Dr. Khalid Aliyu prayed for the soul of those killed in the blast and also prayed for the quick recovery of those that sustained injuries.
Dr. Khalid who described the constant bombings in the North as unfortunate, also prayed for Allah to expose those behind the bombings. He called on the Muslims to continue to pray for unity.
In it reaction ,the Peoples Democratic Party expressed shock over Friday’s bomb attack that claimed the lives of innocent citizens worshipping at the Kano Central Mosque, describing it as “very painful.”
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement said the party was grief-stricken when it received the news of the gruesome attack “especially considering that the victims were harmless Nigerians who were at the mosque to offer prayers and express their allegiance and love for the Almighty God.”
“Indeed, our hearts ache for our brothers and sisters who were slaughtered in this horrible attack. We grieve for the bereaved, especially those who have been widowed and orphaned today. We share in their sorrows and pray that those behind this atrocious act must not escape justice.”
The party lamented that victims of the incessant attacks in the country were productive citizens who were making useful contributions for the growth and development of the nation.
Calling on those behind the attacks to have a rethink and embrace peace, the PDP said the nation would have been a better place if the human and material resources as well as the time and energy wasted as a result of the security challenges were channeled towards national development.
It also urged the citizens not to loose faith but continue to remain vigilant and co-operate with the Government and security agencies as they strive to find a lasting solution to the security challenges.
The party, in solidarity with the people of Kano state postponed its state House of Assembly primaries slated for Saturday, November 29, 2014 while praying God to comfort the bereaved and bring enduring peace to the nation.
