Jonathan Tasks Security Chiefs On Counter Terrorism Measures …UN House Blast, An Abominable Act – Sultan

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed heads of all security services in the country to urgently evolve and implement additional security, intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism measures to thwart the actions of misguided terrorists, in order to forestall a re-occurrence of the UN House mishap.

The president gave the charge yesterday, against the backdrop of last Friday’s attack on the UN building in Abuja, and other related events.

Speaking while delivering his message to Muslims on the occasion of the Eid-el-Fitri and the end of the Ramadan, the president reassured Nigerians and foreigners residing in the country that his administration is taking necessary action to enhance national security.

He said that the government is also working out greater cooperation with other countries to track promoters of mindless violence in the country, and further assured that he would not be distracted by the actions of terrorists and retrogressive elements in the country.

According to him, with the new national economic management team in place, Nigerians should look forward to the fulfillment of the promise of socio-economic revitialisation, job creation and the renewal of national infrastructure in the coming months.

The president also stressed the need for all Nigerians to have a role to play in the urgent task of nation building, and urged everyone to rededicate themselves to supporting government in every possible way to ensure that the country continued to make steady progress.

He wished Nigerians, particularly Muslims happy Eid-el-Fitri celebrations and prayed that God Almighty will continue to bless, guide and protect the country.

Meanwhile, Friday’s explosion at the UN Secretariat in Abuja has been decribed as an abominable act in Islam, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan, by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.

In his Sallah message to the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, the Sultan   said:

“We, therefore, seriously condemn this act while commiserating with those who lost their property and condoling wth the families of those who lost their lives. We hereby call on Muslims not to allow themselves to be used by our enemies in achieving their desired goals.

“We should not allow them to cause us to commit acts prohibited by our religion. We, therefore, call upon all those involved in this nefarious act, to fear God and desist from committing this grievous act,” he added.

According to the Sultan , they should rather seek for avenues of dialogue with the leaders on the problems confronting this country in general.

Abubakar also stressed the need for all to render assistance in providing solution to such serious problems through peaceful means and dialogue.

“We vehemently condemn yesterday’s unfortunate incident of violence in Jos, which caused the loss of lives of many people.

“While we condole with the families of those who lost their lives, we would like to reiterate our call on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, investigate the incident and bring the culprits to book. It is high time for the government to prevent any future recurrence of such acts of violence in this country,” he added.

In a related development, the Federal Government has further assured that embassies and diplomatic missions in the country will be given ‘utmost’ security protection.

Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs, made this known in Abuja, last Monday, while addressing ambassadors and high commissioners to Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP),  Hafiz Ringim said security agents had been directed by government to provide the necessary security for the diplomatic missions to function”, Ringim said.

“We have been charged to leave nothing to chance and nothing will be left unturned in the process of providing the necessary security that you need in order to function effectively while you are still in this country,’’ the IGP said.

Ringim said that security agents had made some arrests in connection with Friday’s attack on the UN House but added that President Goodluck Jonathan would make the announcements in that regard.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi (left) in a handshake with Barr. Joseph B. Daudu SAN, President, Nigerian Bar Association, during a dinner with members of the NBA in Government House, Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Patterson Koko