Although the Nigerian Army has been able to recover all the territories held by the Boko Haram sect and has taken control of its strong hold, the sect demonstrated its ability to wreak havoc by embarking on a suicide attack that killed 50 people in what seem to be a move to weaken Government through public criticism, but a Nigerian NGO will have nothing of such.
A youth reportedly detonated an improvised explosive devise strapped to his body at about 5:00 a.m. onTuesday, while Muslim Faithfull were observing pre-dawn prayers at a mosque in Mubi, Adamawa State.
“We have received the report that 50 people were killed in the morning attack on worshippers at a mosque. We are trying to get the actual figure of those injured and receiving treatment at various hospitals in the area,” Adamawa police spokesman, Abubakar Othman confirmed.
Similarly, two female suicide bombers had blown themselves up in Bakin Dutse village of Maiduguri, killing the chairman of the vigilante group.
The Nigerian Army had liberated Mubi in August 2014, after being overrun by Boko Haram and renamed ‘Madinatul Islam’.
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the attack as “very cruel and dastardly,” reassuring citizens that all would be done to protect their lives and properties.
Reacting to the Mubi incident, Amnesty International said:
“Today’s attack appears to be yet another example of Boko Haram’s continued unlawful disregard for human life. Boko Haram must immediately stop the targeting of civilians and must be held accountable for all the atrocities it has committed, including the use of children for suicide missions.”
In the face of the attack on the Mubi mosque, a group known as Coalition for Peace and Stability (COPS), embarked on a rally from Wuse market to the Presidential Villa in celebration of President Buhari’s achievements over terrorism in the country.
COPS commended the effort of the Nigerian Military while stressing that the remnants of the insurgents need to be flushed in the shortest possible time so Nigerians could have a sigh of relief and experience total freedom from terrorism.
The National Co-ordinator of the group, Abdulmumini Tijani, said that 80% reduction according to the recent Global Terror ranking implies that Nigeria still has 20% to tackle.
“The Institute for Economics and Peace has however auspiciously accelerated our achievement of this objective when it released the Global Terrorism Index 2017. From what is in the news about the report, it shows that the number of those killed in terror attacks has reduced by 80per cent. What we understand by this is that eight out of every ten persons that Boko Haram or other terrorists would have killed are alive,” Tijani said.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Shehu Garba, while addressing the group, thanked them for their support to the anti-terrorism war of the present administration.
“This is the kind of support the government needed as it works round the clock in ensuring a terror-free Nigeria. I must assure you that the President is not relenting on his words that Nigeria must be free from terrorism.”
“In fact, our gallant military troops are working day and night to ensure that all our towns and villages are captured from the extremists. As I speak, I can boldly tell you that no local government in Nigeria is under the control of the insurgents,” he added.
Meanwhile the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has also condemned the suicide attacks that took place in Adamawa.
