Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
Number 18, 2015 – President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday called for increased vigilance among the civilian population to help ward off suicide attacks on soft targets around the country.
Buhari spoke based on attacks by members of the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram on Yola on Tuesday and Kano earlier today. At least 15 people were killed in the Yola attack of Tuesday.
In a statement, signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Alhaji Garba Shehu, the President condemned in strongest terms the barbaric suicide attacks which took place in Yola on the evening of Tuesday, November 17 and in Kano today, causing numerous deaths and injuries among civilians.
According to him, the President extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the Government and people of Adamawa and Kano States respectively.
“President Buhari reassures Nigerians that his administration is very much determined to wipe out Boko Haram in Nigeria and bring all perpetrators of these heinous crime against humanity to justice.
“The President urges all Nigerians not to despair in the face of cowardly terrorist attacks but to have confidence in the ability of Nigeria’s reinvigorated, well-equipped and well-motivated Armed Forces and security agencies to overcome Boko Haram very soon.
“He believes, however, that vigilance is a potential life saver, since security agents cannot be everywhere to deter every planned attack. Citizen’s vigilance will therefore help to reduce the frequency of such attacks”, he said.
