President Jonathan condemns terror attack in Kano

President Goodluck Jonathan on
Monday said he ``wholeheartedly condemned’’
the recent terrorist attacks in Kano and
Adamawa states.
The president also denounced the kidnap of
Seini Lamine, the Lamido of Kolofata in
Northern Cameroon, and the wife of the vice-
prime minister of Cameroon, by Boko Haram
insurgents.
Dr Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser on Media
and Publicity to the President, said in a
statement that Jonathan described the
multiple bomb blasts that occurred in Kano
within 24 hours of each other as shocking and
reprehensible.
The media reports that Kano has witnessed
multiple bomb attacks by Boko Haram
elements, using female suicide bombers, since
Sunday.
The president said that the attacks were
callous considering the fact that they came at
a time Muslims were observing the holy festival
of Eid-el-Fitr.
“Jonathan notes that the deployment of young
women as suicide bombers represents a new low
in the inhuman campaign by these terrorists.”
“It is an expression of utter disregard for the
dignity of the female gender as well as a
wicked exploitation of the girl-child,” the
statement said.
The president also noted that the abduction of
the Lamido of Kolofata and the wife of the
vice-premier of Cameroon, clearly
underscored the regional security threat that
Boko Haram had become.
Jonathan welcomed the recent resolve by the
Defence Ministers of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad,
Benin and Niger to further strengthen existing
partnerships.
It said that the partnerships were aimed at
forestalling “the desperate attempt by
misguided elements to turn the sub-region
into a battleground for terrorism and radical
extremism.”
“Jonathan urges the security forces to remain
resolute, and not be discouraged by the
desperation of the agents of evil.”
“He believes that with the continued
cooperation between Nigeria’s security forces
and their counterparts in neighbouring
countries, the war against terror will surely be
won.”
“He commiserates with the families of all those
who lost their loved ones in the Kano and
Adamawa attacks and wishes the injured
speedy recovery,’’ the statement said.