Boko Haram: FG takes extra security measures nationwide •Why terrorism persists in Nigeria —FG

ARMED soldiers and other security personnel were on Monday drafted to churches, recreational centres and hotels in some states of the North and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on the order of the Federal Government, following alleged fresh threat from  Boko Haram to attack churches and recreational centres during New Year church services.
A top security officer who revealed this to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja named the targeted states as Yobe, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Borno, Adamawa,  Plateau, Kogi, Kastina, Benue, Bauchi, Gombe, Niger and Abuja.
“As we speak now, we have a standing order from above to move armed soldiers and other security personnel from the police, State Security Services, Civil Defence Corps and the Bomb Disposal and Anti-terrorists Squad to all churches and notable recreational centres because, this Islamic sect called Boko Haram may strike tonight (Monday) during new year eve service, so we are not leaving anything to chance and all security personnel will be on guard till further notice,” the source stated.
When the Nigerian Tribune visited some notable churches in Abuja and the popular Millennium Park, some stern-looking armed soldiers were sighted parading the areas, while most of the roads leading to various notable churches were barricaded, leaving only one entrance each.
The Nigerian Tribune also learnt that almost all the churches have placed total ban on the usage of crackers and ‘bangers’ in and around their premises.
At a popular church in Durumi District of Abuja, one of the church workers who identified himself as Kenneth told our reporter that church authority had on Sunday warned parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against the use of fireworks in whatever form in and around church during new year eve service.
According to him, “the Bishop personally made the announcement on Sunday that fireworks in whatever form will not be allowed during New Year service, the Bishop made it clear that anybody caught using any fireworks would be immediately arrested by the security unit of the church and handed over to the police, so we don’t expect fireworks here during and around the church, because if it is allowed, gunmen invading churches might hide under this guise to attack our church.”
The Nigerian Tribune learnt that the security personnel were also under strict instruction not to allow any vehicle into the premises of the churches no matter highly placed as all vehicles are to be parked at the various designated car parks to be manned by armed soldiers, while such vehicles must be thoroughly searched before being allowed into the parking lots.
The Nigerian Tribune had last week exclusively reported the plan of the Boko Haram group to unleash mayhem during the Christmas celebration in some parts of the North and Abuja which was confirmed by President Goodlcuck Jonathan during a church service at Utako district in Abuja.
Despite the tight security nationwide, the group still struck in Maiduguri and Adamawa where they invaded a police station and prison yard and killed innocent people.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Monday said the secretive mode of operation by terrorists in the country was responsible for why terror has persisted, and not lack of capacity on the part of security forces.
The government, in making the statement, noted that the country’s armed forces were facing what it described as difficult and different enemy and deserved commendation.
Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku who spoke in Abuja while reviewing major achievements of government in 2012 maintained that those who were attacking citizens did not believe in God, were misguided and used satanic forces against the citizens. He scored government high in performance in 2012.
He said, at a time, he was almost a lone voice in cautioning that insecurity in the north was capable of consuming the region and warned that politicising the insecurity challenge was capable of continuously exposing northern communities to danger.
The minister commended residents of the troubled northern states whom he said have continued to persevere and cooperate with security operatives in the areas in combating the terrorists.
He said, “Our armed forced are facing a difficult enemy, enemy that is different, enemy that can smile but with bombs on his chest, enemy that looks gentle but is out to kill.”
Mr Maku reminded those who criticised operations of security agencies in the affected states that nobody would be able to live in the troubled states if the troops were withdrawn.
The minister also took a swipe on those who, he said, abused President Goodluck Jonathan and said he (Jonathan) was being attacked because of the changes he was making.
According to him, most of the abuses were personal, unfair and partisan and said, “This president will surprise us by the grace of God.”
“We have a leader who is being looked down upon because he is humble. President Jonathan is being attacked daily by everybody, a president who is a doctorate-degree holder. That he is quiet and humble should be a plus for this country. Nigerians should thank him for his temper,” he said.
Commenting on allegations against some serving ministers, Maku said the proper thing to do was for the accusers to approach relevant agencies with evidence of graft and expressed confidence that the law would catch up with anybody who did wrong in the current government.
Maku promised that Nigerians would see greater vigour in the fight against corruption in 2013 and recalled that reforms in the agricultural sector ended the annual fertiliser supply scams that ran into billions annually.
“Already, all the loopholes being explored to defraud the nation through the fuel subsidy have been blocked. The report of the Aig lmoukhuede-led Presidential Committee has assisted in tightening the payment regime in order to check corruption.
“Currently all those indicted in the fuel subsidy scam are being prosecuted, no matter how highly placed.  This is to recover monies fraudulently siphoned through fuel subsidy payments. The campaign to sanitise the oil and gas sector will continue in earnest in 2013,” he said.