Jonathan declares State of Emergency
ABUJA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on Saturday in parts of northern Nigeria plagued by a violent Islamist insurgency, and said he would shut any borders with other nations in those areas covered by the decree.
"I have ... declared a state of emergency in the following parts of the federation," Jonathan told state TV, before going on to list the northern local governments affected by the decree.
"The temporary closure of our borders in the affected areas is only an interim measure designed to address the current security challenges and will be resumed as soon as normalcy is restored," he added, in a speech addressing deadly Christmas Day bombings by the Boko Haram sect a week ago.
The decree means parts of Nigeria's border with Niger, Chad and Cameroon will be sealed until further notice.
He added that his chief of defence staff had been instructed to take other "appropriate" measures, including setting up a special counter-terrorism force.
Militants from Boko Haram, a radical Islamist sect, set off a series of bombs across Nigeria on Christmas Day, including one that killed at least 37 people and wounded 57.
The blasts raised fears that Boko Haram, a movement styled on the Taliban and whose name means "Western education is forbidden", is trying to ignite sectarian strife in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and top oil producer.
"The crisis has assumed a terrorist dimension," Jonathan said. "I therefore urge the political leadership (in northern local governments) to give maximum cooperation to ensure that the situation is brought under control."
The local government areas listed included parts of Niger State, Borno and Yobe, all of which have become infiltrated with Boko Haram militants.
(Reporting by Tim Cocks)
From: Mr. Seyi Olu Awofeso [mailto:awofeso@mwebafrica.com]
Sent: 31 December 2011 02:25
To: Adepeju O
Subject: "Okay, i'll fight Boko Haram to the end", Jonathan Vows
"Okay, i'll fight Boko Haram to the end", Jonathan Vows
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was vowing in Abuja that his government will fight Boko Haram, the "group of evil-minded people who want to cause anarchy, to the end".
Mr. Jonathan was speaking to Mr. Mohame Bazoum, Deputy Prime Minister of Niger Republic, who brought a solidarity message and condolences to Nigeria for lives lost during the Christmas Day attacks from President Issoufou Mahamadou.
In Mr. Jonathan's statement today, he seemed to have backed off a widely criticized utterance last week where he said that Nigerians would learn to live with the Boko Haram attacks.
In today's more carefully-worded statement, he said that both Muslims and Christians were victims of the explosives planted by Boko haram, and called for a concerted effort by all well-meaning Nigerians to bring this problem under control.
President Jonathan agreed with President Issoufou that this was not a religious war, adding that "no religion asks its followers to throw bombs to kill people they don't even know".
Mr. Jonathan called on neighboring countries to cooperate with Nigeria in the struggle against the menace because "the perpetrators pass through borders at will and we have to ensure that there are no safe havens for them in the sub-region".
"Bomb blast is a burden we must live with"…Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday in Abuja described the bombings in the county as a burden Nigerians must live with until it fizzles out.
Jonathan made the remark when he received in audience a delegation of the Christian Community in FCT led by FCT Minister Bala Mohammed. Jonathan said there was no justification for the crime and called on Nigerians to continue to pray for peace in the country. The president was reacting to the bomb blast that occurred in the early hours of Sunday in Madalla, in Niger, shortly after the end of a church service.
"We have challenges as a nation; even this morning, a very ugly incident happened in a Catholic Church. We are yet to get the number of deaths in the incident. "The issue of bombing is one of the burdens we must live with. It will not last forever; I believe that it will surely be over,'' he said. Condoling with the families of those who lost their lives in the incident, Jonathan said that there was no reason for such an act to be carried out on a Christmas day.
THE Minister of Interior however said on Monday that it had developed new tactics to effectively deal with the problem of sporadic bomb blasts by the Boko Haram sect. This followed the Christmas day bomb blasts at Saint Theresa's Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, that left many worshipers dead and others sustaining various degrees of injuries. Minister of Interior, Mr Patrick Abba Moro, revealed the new plans of the government to stop the activities of the Islamic fundamentalists in Abuja, while on inspection visit to the scene of the blast at Madalla. He also visited some of the hospitals to commiserate with some of the blasts victims receiving treatment.
Moro, however, failed to disclose a detail of the new tactics the government wants to employ because of security implication. He said that the government had acknowledged the high-level intelligence employed consistently by the sect as well as the constant change in its operational tactics after every successful or failed attack. Accordingly, the minister said since the government's attempts to tackle the situation in the recent time seemed ineffective, the only option left to it now was to employ the planned new tactics to stop the sect from continuing to wreak havoc in the country.
He said: "This is a problem that is a little foreign to Nigeria. It's a security problem that Nigeria as a government has attempted to tackle in the recent time. Again, it leaves a lot of room for improvement because from the repetition of the incidence of bomb blasts, it means that the government has to do more. "The government has to also change tactics. This, definitely, with a determined effort to curb the excesses of these sectarian groups, the government will tackle. "As it is with terrorism all over the world, they change their tactics, they change their modus operandi with every successful or unsuccessful attempt at bomb blast."
The military-led Joint Task Force (JTF) yesterday foiled attempt to bomb some churches within Maiduguri metropolis by suicide bombers suspected to be Boko Haram. The bombers, according to military sources, had attacked the Ruwan Safi branch of The Apostolic Church at about 8pm on Christmas Day in a Golf saloon car laden with explosive devices.
"One bomb first went off and everybody was scared but after some minutes, we started hearing gunshots," one of the residents told Daily Sun. Speaking on the incident, the pastor in charge of the assembly, Oyebode said the bomber came at about 8pm and entered through the back but expressed happiness that none of the members was affected. He said only one of the structures within the premises was affected.
Sources also said the sect equally attacked Gadaka and Potiskum towns in the neighbouring Yobe State. Many vehicles and buildings were reportedly burnt down. Some of the affected churches include Anglican Church and St. Peter Catholic Church in Potiskum. Confirming the Maiduguri incident, JTF operational officer, Colonel Victor Ebheleme disclosed that the bomber could not succeed because of the vigilance of his men.
"The bomber came to the area in a Golf saloon car but could not succeed. The first improvised explosion went off but did not do much damage because our men in the area were very alert. T-hey pursued him and were able to gun him down. We discovered some explosive devices in the car and we have impounded the car while the people in the area have come for the corpse," he said.
He said his men also intercepted a tricycle loaded with 147 rounds of ammunition and AK 47 rifles, adding that the cyclist took to his heel when he realised that the game was up. Daily Sun observed that most residents of Maiduguri had remained in-door though there were beehive of activities in some areas.
MEMBERS of the church that lost 25 worshippers on Christmas Day were struggling yesterday to free themselves from the terrible hangover of the horror. A church member, apparently still shocked by the horrific scene, yesterday relayed how it all happened.
Mr. Francis Raphael said a suicide bomber actually ran into part of the congregation. His account contradicted that of the National Security Adviser, Gen. Azazi Owoye, who said the perpetrators of the explosions threw bombs at the members of the church who were coming out after an early morning mass.
Raphael, a member of the church's Security Committee, said the suicide bomber came in a "clean" Toyota Camry Car. The church allowed Raphael to speak with reporters because he is perhaps the only surviving member of the security team on duty on Sunday.
A policeman, who also survived, was still regarded as a "living victim" because he is in a critical condition.
Raphael, who is injured in the head, said the suicide bomber died with scores of congregation members. The survivor, who was at the gates of the church when the explosions occurred, said the bomber defied police and church operatives when he was flagged down.
His head bandaged, Raphael narrated how three policemen and a church security worker, Peter Ehis, made a desperate bid to stop the bomber for a check, but he accelerated and rammed into scores of parishioners trooping out of the church.
He said he was sure that about 90per cent of the members of the congregation were at the entrance of the church when the bomber ran into them on top speed.
Raphael said: "It was an impact bomb. The incident happened few minutes before 8am when the first mass ended and people were coming out. I was under a cashew tree, directly under the fence of the second gate. "Immediately after the first mass, we were trying to disperse and there were many people outside the church.
"The suicide bomber came with a golden colour Camry car. The flashy and clean car was coming from Suleija end. The car was almost like new and the glasses were clear, not tinted. "The suicide bomber wound up all the side glasses. He must have been playing music or making some incantations or saying his last prayers.
"We had two security personnel and a youth member at the first gate. The policemen tried to stop him but the car refused to stop. The youth member did the same thing to stop him, he refused. The youth member decided to follow him, to monitor him.
"Instead, the man wound up the glasses, drove slowly. After about five seconds, he turned the vehicle with one of his back tyres almost stepping on the youth member. He turned the vehicle, facing the parish and the culvert.
"As soon as he turned, he accelerated, as if he wanted to fly and ran into them. As soon as he crashed, the bomb exploded. It was after the crash that the thing exploded. So, he moved the car and entered into the scores of parishioners.
"The traffic man and the youth member died. The youth member, Peter Ehis, was so close to the car. He was directly behind the car. They said he also died alongside an Inspector at the first gate.
"The suicide bomber died with his victims. I cannot recall whether he was in the car with any other person. But the car was brand new golden colour Toyota Camry. "I was thrown aside. I stood up thrice. After, I was treated at the Daughters of Charity Home but could not be admitted. I had to go back to the hospital this morning for treatment. "I still have some shock. I thank God that I am alive. The suicide bomber was not on speed; he drove slowly, then he stopped, but with great acceleration, he ran into those coming out. "If I am to say, let me say that about 90 per cent of the parishioners were outside the church when the suicide bomber struck.
"The death toll of 25 was far from it. I said scores of persons died in the explosions." Responding to a question, Raphael said: "We beefed up our security in the church long tome ago. Before you go into the church, we use scanners to screen you. We have always taken precaution.
"The precaution was not based on any information but when we had the celebration last year, some came with bangers that were so loud. To manage the situation, we had to check all these." Concerning the arrest, Raphael added: "I was told two strange persons were caught. I may have to find out the true position."
Asked if it is true that the bombs were planted under a car on Saturday, he said: "The vehicle there was a green Mercedes Benz car owned by a parishioner."
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