The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna blasts

  • Don’t politicise attack on Buhari – Presidency

    The Presidency has cautioned the political class against politicising Wednesday’s bomb attacks targeted at former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari.

    Speaking in Abuja on Friday, the Political Adviser to the President, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said resorting to blame game could be counter productive to the war against terrorism.

    Alkali sympathised with Buhari over the attack, saying it was by providence that the nation was saved the trauma of having the former head of state come to harm.

    Alkali said: “I want to express my sincere concern over what happened to our former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. You all recall two or three days ago there was an attempted attack on his life and that of another senior citizen, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi in Kaduna.

    “It is by the grace of God that today the lives of these two senior citizens were spared. We want to thank God for saving them and for saving this country from the trauma of what could have happened if the people behind it had achieved their objective.

    “I want to also state that in a season like this, the usual thing is what has become the popular culture of blame game. I don’t think anybody in this country would be associated with such thing in any way or form.

    “Therefore, those who want to trivialise or personalise these issues by attributing it to this government or the leadership of this government in any form, directly or indirectly, should desist from that.

    “This government is committed to the security of this nation, it is committed to lasting peace in this country and Mr. President is deeply committed to bringing stability in our political environment.

    “We should not over dramatise these issues. All of us must come together, we have a collective responsibility to protect and defend our country. This is not a time for politicising issues.

    “Security matters are not for politicians. There are people who have been trained and who are responsible for security. We cannot do their job for them; they should be allowed to do their job.

    “We should also desist from any attempt that will weaken the institutions of government, especially security agencies who are doing very well in containing the situation.”

     

  • Suspect arrested in connection with Kaduna blasts

    The Defence Headquarters on Friday said that troops in Kaduna had arrested a man in connection with the explosions that rocked the city on Wednesday.

    This is contained in a statement posted on Defence headquarters website defenceinfo.mil.ng.

    The statement said the young man was apprehended by military patrol team that swooped on the area immediately after the explosion.

    It said that the suspect disguised as a woman clad in female garb to exude femininity with a brazier affixed to his chest.

    “The suspect was arrested while trying to fizzle into a crowd of onlookers when the patrol team arrived the scene.

    “Youths in the area attempted to mob him while he was being arrested but were restrained by troops who quickly whisked him away in an armoured personnel carrier,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the DHQ as saying in the statement.

    The statement said the suspect is currently being interrogated by security agencies in a bid to ascertain his links.

     

  • Government, opposition encouraging insecurity – Shehu Sani

    Civil rights activist, Mallam Shehu Sani, has said that political bickering and blame game between the government and the opposition parties in the country are helping to sustain the current wave of violence and insecurity in the country.

    In a statement made available to Saturday Nation, Sani who is also the President of the Civil Rights Congress (CRC) said it was wrong for the ruling party to blame the ongoing insurgency in the country on the opposition with any proof, while it is utterly false to concoct any conspiracy theory that links President Goodluck Jonathan or the Federal Government to attacks that clearly had the hallmark of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Sani, who was reacting to Wednesday’s twin explosions in Kaduna which ostensibly targeted Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi and former Head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Sani said the nation has a major challenge which must be addressed with the cooperation of every Nigerian irrespective of political or religious affiliation.

    He noted that if the attempt on the lives of the two personalities had been successful, the nation would have been thrown into a major crisis which may have been the intention of those who sponsored the attacks.

    Sani said: “The multiple bombings in kaduna and kano which targeted Muhammadu Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi stands unreservedly condemned. The assassination attempts once again demonstrated the annihilating danger faced by the Nigerian state. The attack if successful could have trigger a serious civil unrest of which the architect must have intended to achieve.

    “The ongoing insurgency and the overall security situation in the country should be a matter of concern to all. With the attack on these two prominent Nigerians, it’s evidently clear now that we are in a situation where everyone is vulnerable. The series of campaign and violence is the most imminent and concrete threat to Nigeria’s unity, freedom and democracy.

    “For how long should we continue to harvest the corpses of innocent victims of mass murder? There is the absolute need for national unity and solidarity in tackling the menace.

    “Violence will continue as long as there is no exigent national cohesion to combat it. Political bickering and blame game between the government and the opposition and warmongering between the north and the south helps in sustaining the violence.

    “It is utterly wrong for the ruling party to ascribe the ongoing insurgency to the opposition without any iota of proof to that and it’s utterly false for anyone to concoct conspiracy theory that links President Jonathan or the Federal Government to attacks that clearly and evidently has the hallmark of the insurgents.”

     

  • Nigeria can deal with Boko Haram – Buhari

    Nigeria can deal with Boko Haram – Buhari

    Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), said on Thursday Nigeria is capable of dealing with terrorism.

    He also said the activities of the sect had nothing to do with religion or ethnicity but an act of terrorism.

    Buhari spoke when he received Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and members of Kaduna State Security Council at his residence on Thursday. The governor and the Security Council members came to sympathize with the former Nigerian leader over the attack targeted at him on his way to Daura on Wednesday.

    He said, “When this question of Boko Haram started, I’m sure it was on record that the first statement I made about 18 months ago was that the sect members were not religion advocates and that what is happening basically is terrorism.  This is terrorism and I hope the government will come to grip with it.

    “Nigeria is capable of dealing with this. We dealt with the civil war, for 30 months, we fought and we kept Nigeria one and God willing we are going to keep Nigeria one.

    “I commiserate with the families of those that died, because this thing was ignited at exactly when my car was almost side by side with this thing. When I came out, there was blood on my dress I did not know how it came about because I did not have a scratch myself, but there were dead bodies all over the place. The security tried to move me to the other side and we just got one of the vehicles passing and they brought me home.

    “I hope the law enforcement agencies and the chief executives of the states will succeed in securing the country. May God help us.”

     

  • PDP condemns Kaduna blasts

    PDP condemns Kaduna blasts

    …Sympathises with Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned in very strong terms Wednesday’s blasts in Kaduna that killed over 85 persons, describing the attacks as dastardly and unfortunate.

    In a statement issued on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, the party mourned the dead victims of the blasts.

    It also joined other well-meaning Nigerians in thanking God for saving the lives of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi whose convoys were affected in the attacks.

    “We sincerely sympathise with Gen. Buhari. Our hearts go out to him and all those affected in these wicked attacks,” the PDP said.

    Expressing shock at the ugly incident, the party reiterated its call for Nigerians to unite against acts of terrorism irrespective of ethnic, political and religious affiliations, stating that “it has become clear that anybody could be a target.”

    It, however, cautioned opposition leaders to be careful with their utterances regarding the unfortunate incident, saying that Nigerians must unite for the nation to win the war against terror.

    The party also charged security agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the attacks as well as intensify their efforts in the fight against insurgency in the country.

     

  • Nigeria turning into theatre of bloodshed – JNI

    The apex Islamic body in Northern Nigeria, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has condemned the explosions that killed scores in Kaduna on Wednesday, lamenting that Nigeria is becoming a theatre of bloodshed.

    In a statement issued by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, JNI said, “We are dazzled over the news of the explosions in Kaduna City, which killed many innocent Muslims in a Tafseer closing session of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, held at Murtala Muhammad Square, Kaduna and within a short while another blast was said to have rocked Kawo in the city.

    “We therefore, condemn in the strongest term these repeated acts of terror being unleashed on the Muslims, in this blessed month of Ramadan.

    “JNI equally sympathizes with all the affected victims and also consoles with the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident. May Aljannatul Firdaus be the abode of all the deceased, Amin.

    “As usual, JNI calls on all authorities concerned to be more committed to their responsibilities of protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians as no development can be achieved in a situation of fear, insecurity and chaos.

    “All hands must be on deck to stop these perpetual massacres of lives and properties, as Nigeria is becoming a theatre of lost of blood for no just cause, which must be stopped.

    “Muslims should utilise the remaining days of Ramadan to complain to Allah, The Most Merciful, through vigorous supplications for relief, succour and ease against the evil masterminds of the nagging insecurity bedeviling our country.

    “May Allah, the All-Mighty, The Compeller, The Supreme, and The All-Knowing, bring an end to this nagging evil, disgrace the perpetrators and grant us lasting peace, security, prosperity and a promising future full of happiness and development, Amin,” the statement read.

  • Jonathan condemns Kaduna blasts

    Jonathan condemns Kaduna blasts

    President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the explosions that rocked Kaduna State on Wednesday.

    In a statement issued by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati,  the President described the attack which appeared to have targeted former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and prominent Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, as an odious attempt to inflame passions and exacerbate disquiet in the land.

    “President Jonathan denounces the dastardly targeting of the prominent political and religious leaders by terrorists and enemies of the nation in an odious attempt to inflame passions and exacerbate disquiet, fear, insecurity and sectional divisions in the country,” the statement said.

    While thanking God for sparing the lives of Buhari and the cleric, the President also extended sincere condolences to the families of those who were  killed by the  blasts.

    “President Jonathan commiserates with all those who were injured in the twin bombings in this Holy Month of Ramadan which defy the tenets of Islam, and provide further proof that the terrorists are nothing but blood-thirsty extremists bent on undermining the unity and progress of the nation.

    “The President assures residents of Kaduna and all other Nigerians that the Federal Government will continue and further intensify its ongoing efforts to effectively curb the menace of terrorism in the country.

    “He has specifically directed the police and other national security agencies to take all necessary actions to apprehend the perpetrators of today’s attacks on Kaduna and urges all residents of the city to give them the fullest possible cooperation and support as they work to bring the terrorists to justice,” the statement added.