Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari has decried the latest suicide bomb attack which killed 22 worshippers on Wednesday dawn at a mosque in Umarari, located in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.
In a series of tweets to express his condemnation of the attacks, Buhari expressed dismay at the news of the attack and described the insurgent group Boko Haram as ‘‘mindless and godless’‘ group that did not in any way represent Islam.
“This attack is yet another sign that Boko Haram is a mindless and godless group that in no way represents true Islam.” ~ Pres
— President Buhari (NGRPresident) March 16, 2016MBuhari
He further reiterated the resolve of his government to ensure that Nigeria was safe from terrorism and violence. He had earlier promised to deal political violence as is happening in the country’s Rivers State.
“The Government remains resolute in its commitment to securing Nigeria from terrorism and violence.” ~ President
— President Buhari (NGRPresident) March 16, 2016MBuhari
December 2015 deadline and technical victory
The President who gave a December 2015 deadline to flush out the insurgents, claimed a ‘technical’ victory over the group late last year, explaining that the weakened group were now ‘capable’ of targetting innocent civilians and not facing the army as they did in the past.
Buhari sent his condolences to the families of victims and to the Borno State government and charged the people to maintain a high level of vigilance especially in public places.
A fifth tweet reiterated the resolve of the Nigerian government to safeguard live and property from unnecessary destruction.“The Government remains resolute in its commitment to securing Nigeria from terrorism and violence,” it read.
Boko Haram insurgency
The Nigerian army since the assumption of power by President Buhari have taken the anti terror fight to Boko Haram insurgents, who claim to be fighting towards the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria’s northeast.
As a result of their activities, several lives have been lost and millions have been displaced from their homes in a six-year insurgency that has threatened the peace of three Nigerian states namely, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa; all in the northeast.
Beyond Nigeria, the activities of Boko Haram have gone as far as threatening the Lake Chad region comprising Niger, Cameroon’s far north region and Chad. That situation led to the formation of a Multinational Task force to fight the insurgents.
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