GUNS boomed yesterday as suspected members of Boko Haram
invaded Chibok and Gamboru Ngala, Borno State.
Offices of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Immigration, State Security Service (SSS), Quarantine and churches were razed as the more than 50 gunmen went on the rampage.
After setting fire to the building, they fled but there was an exchange of gunfire as security agents stormed the affected area immediately.
Ten people were killed in the attack.
The gunmen arrived in cars and on motorcycles, attacked three churches and the security agencies' offices very close to Cameroon border, opened fire on security agents, chanting Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest).
Those killed were worshippers in one of the churches attacked by the gunmen and a road construction crew.
A resident, Modugana Ibrahim, said: "They opened fire on the security personnel but it is hard to say if anybody was hurt or killed".
Another resident, Hamidu Ahmad, said the gunmen went into town "chanting 'Allahu Akbar' and burnt down the divisional police station and three churches".
Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to come together in the fight against terrorism and other violent crimes in the country.
Speaking during a courtesy visit on Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, the Sultan said terrorism, robbery, kidnapping and other criminal activities is not restricted to a particular religion or region of the country.
The Sultan, who congratulated Oshiomhole on his re-election, said: “The people of Edo State brought you back to continue your good works. The challenge is now for you to continue with the good works. When I came, I saw so many changes. I think the people of Edo State did the right thing to allow you to continue to steer the ship of state so that you could continue the good work you are doing,” he added.
On insecurity, the Sultan said: “Some years back, we watched with amazement when we see suicide bombers and car bombers, we thought we could not have such things in our country.
But we have them now. It is not a particular religion or ethnicity that specialises in such terrorist or criminal activities in the form of kidnapping or armed robbery, but I believe that we must all come together to resolve these issues the best way possible for our country”.
He stressed that the “challenges that come our way can ginger us to strengthen our resolve to meet them headlong, defeat them collectively in unity and forge a national cohesion.”
From the Presidency has come a message of hope to Nigerians that the country is safe, despite bombings.
President Goodluck Jonathan insisted that Nigeria remains safe in spite of bombings, and urged Nigerians not to entertain any fear in their daily activities.
Jonathan, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, stressed that it was in the character of insurgency worldwide to audaciously attack institutions that will promote maximum fears in the heart of the citizenry.
The President, who recalled when the IRA bombed the hotel in which the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, and core members of her Cabinet were holding a meeting, said it was not surprising that such strategic places were attacked in Nigeria.
According to him: "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, GCFR, 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," Okupe noted.
He assured that the Jonathan-administration was prepared to further enhance and ensure the security of lives and property of all Nigerians, irrespective of their locations within the country.
As for intelligence gathering, Okupe explained that 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 intelligence gathering capacity have witnessed a monumental increase in capacity to gather information.
That, according to Okupe, was responsible for the reduction in over 70 per cent of the activities of the Boko Haram and other sinister plans before they occur.
He said unfortunately, these are not made known to members of the public.
Rather than entertaining fears, Okupe stressed that in times like this, Nigerians should endeavor to exhibit the fire of patriotism, and advised the nation to rally round the government in its efforts to root out the criminal elements within the 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."
He also urged the media to join hands and key-in into the transformation agenda and ensure that sensational reports that could tarnish Nigeria's image and bring the country into disrepute and create anxiety and panic are avoided as much as possible.
Okupe said: "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.
"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."
Offices of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Immigration, State Security Service (SSS), Quarantine and churches were razed as the more than 50 gunmen went on the rampage.
After setting fire to the building, they fled but there was an exchange of gunfire as security agents stormed the affected area immediately.
Ten people were killed in the attack.
The gunmen arrived in cars and on motorcycles, attacked three churches and the security agencies' offices very close to Cameroon border, opened fire on security agents, chanting Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest).
Those killed were worshippers in one of the churches attacked by the gunmen and a road construction crew.
A resident, Modugana Ibrahim, said: "They opened fire on the security personnel but it is hard to say if anybody was hurt or killed".
Another resident, Hamidu Ahmad, said the gunmen went into town "chanting 'Allahu Akbar' and burnt down the divisional police station and three churches".
Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to come together in the fight against terrorism and other violent crimes in the country.
Speaking during a courtesy visit on Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, the Sultan said terrorism, robbery, kidnapping and other criminal activities is not restricted to a particular religion or region of the country.
The Sultan, who congratulated Oshiomhole on his re-election, said: “The people of Edo State brought you back to continue your good works. The challenge is now for you to continue with the good works. When I came, I saw so many changes. I think the people of Edo State did the right thing to allow you to continue to steer the ship of state so that you could continue the good work you are doing,” he added.
On insecurity, the Sultan said: “Some years back, we watched with amazement when we see suicide bombers and car bombers, we thought we could not have such things in our country.
But we have them now. It is not a particular religion or ethnicity that specialises in such terrorist or criminal activities in the form of kidnapping or armed robbery, but I believe that we must all come together to resolve these issues the best way possible for our country”.
He stressed that the “challenges that come our way can ginger us to strengthen our resolve to meet them headlong, defeat them collectively in unity and forge a national cohesion.”
From the Presidency has come a message of hope to Nigerians that the country is safe, despite bombings.
President Goodluck Jonathan insisted that Nigeria remains safe in spite of bombings, and urged Nigerians not to entertain any fear in their daily activities.
Jonathan, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, stressed that it was in the character of insurgency worldwide to audaciously attack institutions that will promote maximum fears in the heart of the citizenry.
The President, who recalled when the IRA bombed the hotel in which the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, and core members of her Cabinet were holding a meeting, said it was not surprising that such strategic places were attacked in Nigeria.
According to him: "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, GCFR, 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," Okupe noted.
He assured that the Jonathan-administration was prepared to further enhance and ensure the security of lives and property of all Nigerians, irrespective of their locations within the country.
As for intelligence gathering, Okupe explained that 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 intelligence gathering capacity have witnessed a monumental increase in capacity to gather information.
That, according to Okupe, was responsible for the reduction in over 70 per cent of the activities of the Boko Haram and other sinister plans before they occur.
He said unfortunately, these are not made known to members of the public.
Rather than entertaining fears, Okupe stressed that in times like this, Nigerians should endeavor to exhibit the fire of patriotism, and advised the nation to rally round the government in its efforts to root out the criminal elements within the 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."
He also urged the media to join hands and key-in into the transformation agenda and ensure that sensational reports that could tarnish Nigeria's image and bring the country into disrepute and create anxiety and panic are avoided as much as possible.
Okupe said: "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.
"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."
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