Guardian

THE recurrent attacks by Boko Haram in the northern parts of the country belie their real intention which is to take over Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and force the nation’s leaders into hiding.

President Goodluck Jonathan who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja compared the Boko Haram insurgency with what is happening in Syria and Central African Republic, where the rebels are about taking over the capital cities.

The President, who was at a church service in Ekklisiya Yan Uwa A Nigeria (EYN) yesterday in Abuja, frankly acknowledged the existence of some threats to the corporate existence of the country.

Of particular concern to the President were the activities of Boko Haram in the northern parts of the country, the unending kidnappings in the South-East and South-South as well as armed robberies in the South-West, declaring as a matter of fact that, no part of the country was secure.

Jonathan said: “Looking at what is happening in Syria, and the Central African Republic, where rebels are almost taking over their capital cities, is akin to what Boko Haram is trying to do in Nigeria, to take over Abuja so as to make me and those in government to go and hide.”

But he assured that the Boko Haram menace would be reduced to its barest minimum in 2013.

“Let me assure you that government is working hard, and we will continue to work very hard. We are suppressing the insurgency. For instance, before Christmas, we were told that the whole of Abuja will be burnt down, including Maiduguri, among others. Though we had some incidents in some parts, but they were minimised,” he said.

He continued: “We will continue to work hard and with your prayers and our commitment, Boko Haram will not overthrow us. I want to assure you that 2013 that we are entering into will be a better year for Nigeria. I assure you that excesses of Boko Haram will be brought to a reasonable control in 2013.”

Lamenting that churches have been the worst hit, the President noted that the recent attacks on the churches were signs of the end times.

He said: “In the Holy Bible, we read how the early apostles were persecuted and put inside hot oil. I ask myself, are we going back to those days when the church was tormented and maltreated? But we hope it will not come to that.”

He noted, however, that attacks by the group do not reflect the preaching by any of the religious groups in the country, whether Islam or Christian, insisting that the teaching was foreign and that it must be removed from the country.

According to the President, no nation of the world has been able to develop without its citizens having sound education.

He noted that attempts by Boko Haram to stop the government from providing campaign promises to Nigerians would not succeed.

He urged Christians not to relent in their prayers for the country so that evil would not prevail over it.

Jonathan said that his visit was to interact with the church, and to also commend them for praying relentlessly for the peace of the nation, noting that he knew that his visit had put some of them under threat.

The resident pastor of the church, Rev. Daniel Mbaya lamented that the church, which is predominantly in the North-East, had been the worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Giving a rough estimate of those that have been affected, he said the group had killed 109 of their members, while 50 of their churches had been burnt down.

Mbaya noted that the church had never contemplated reprisal attack, but that they had been preaching peace, assuring of their resolve to always spread the gospel in the North-eastern part of the country.

Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe State killed four suspected Boko Haram members and arrested 51 suspects in a three-hour raid of the group’s hideouts in Yindiski area of Potiskum at 2.00 p.m. on Saturday.

A policeman attached to the JTF, was, however, killed while a soldier sustained gunshot wounds during the raid.

Potiskum is 100 kilometres west of Damaturu, the state capital and one of the epicentres of the group in Yobe State.

In a statement by the JTF spokesman, Lt. Lazarus Eli, made available to reporters in Damaturu, he said that during “cordon and search” operations of the JTF, the troops clashed with the Boko Haram members in their hideouts, recovered arms and ammunition and arrested 51 suspects in Yindiski ward of Potiskum.

The statement also read in part: “The JTF was able to recover four AK 47 rifles, one double barrel gun, 16 magazines and 380 rounds of ammunition, two cylinders, and several bomb-making materials. Fifty-nine suspects were also arrested for interrogations and questioning.”

Eli further disclosed that the 51 suspects would undergo thorough “questionings and interrogations” before they would be released by the security task force if found innocent.

The statement also urged law-abiding citizens to go about their normal activities and continue to support the JTF by providing useful and timely information that would assist in ridding the state of terrorists and their activities.

The raiding of the Boko Haram hideouts by the JTF came five days after the Piri Church was attacked near Potiskum and six people were killed, including the pastor, Yohana Sini.

Also, armed security operatives in Kaduna raided and demolished a bomb-making factory in Rigasa, Igabi Local Council area, and killed five suspected members of Boko Haram.

Two members of the group were said to have been seriously injured during the incident last Thursday, as the armed men deployed for the operation were said to have recovered different types of arms and ammunition.

The Spokesman of 1 Mechanised Division of Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman explained that the security agencies recovered five Mark 4 rifles, three pump action rifles, 20 rolls of detonating cords, 21 nine volts batteries, two remote switches, one testing meter, five assorted daggers and jack knives as well as improvised explosive devices (IED) materials from the building.

Usman said in a statement that the security agencies carried out a “cordon and search” operation at Makarfi Road, Rigasa and discovered the bomb-making factory at a house located off the road.

According to the statement, “on approaching the factory, some suspected terrorists opened fire on the troops,” noting that the exchange of fire that ensued resulted in the death of five terrorists, while two that sustained injuries and were picked up were receiving treatment.

The army further explained that “in line with our resolve to deter terrorists, the building housing the factory was demolished.”

Usman noted that the operation followed a tip-off from well-intended citizens, just as he commended their courage.

The army spokesperson of the 1 Division Headquarters added that the military action was aimed at ensuring peace and securing lives and property of law-abiding citizens of the state and beyond.

He urged the public to always report suspicious characters and groups to the authorities for prompt action.

Besides, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State said he was overwhelmed with joy that this year’s Christmas was celebrated in a peaceful atmosphere devoid of bombings as was the case in the recent past.

According to Jang, the peaceful celebration of this year’s Christmas appears to indicate that God has decided that His people have seen enough of bad times and it is time for them to rejoice.

Jang spoke at the weekend when he received the team of leaders of denominations in the state led by the President of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), Rev. Soja Bewarang.

He said the coming year would witness a steady partnership between religious bodies and the government to enhance the people’s spiritual growth and for the prosperity of the land.