The federal government Friday said international best practice would be applied in the ongoing rescue mission of over 200 school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents.
Also yesterday, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State described the insecurity in the country as a war situation, while also describing the perpetrators of the recent twin bomb blasts in Jos as enemies of the country.
The Director General, National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri who spoke to THISDAY on the Chibok rescue mission, said all options on the table concerning the operation would be in line with international best practice
.
The Director General stated that contrary to what was being insinuated in some quarters, the government had been working very hard to rescue the abducted girls. “The idea is not to rescue dead children but to rescue them alive. So, the strategy is different; you have to plan, agree and follow a particular method.
"It took America 200 days to get its citizens from Iran. It took twelve years to get Osama Bin Laden. We only learnt that they have landed and taken Osama Bin Laden; we didn't hear the process.
"Nigerian armed forces are right in the bush. They are combing the bush everyday. In addition to that, if the government or the president is not doing anything, Mr. President would not have asked for additional support from other countries."
The Director General urged protesters to keep calm for a while and reflect on the things they are saying and what the government was doing and not to keep complaining.
He expressed optimism about the ability of the armed forces to bring an end to the activities of Boko Haram sect in the country.
In a related development, governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State yesterday described the insecurity in the country as a war situation, while also describing the perpetrators of the recent twin bomb blasts in Jos as enemies of the country.
Jang spoke in Jos after visiting the scene of Tuesday’s blasts at Terminus Market that left scores of people dead.
He said: “The worst kind of war to fight is when your enemies are unknown. Most of those who attack us are from outside Plateau, or even outside the country. They bring their bombs from outside and then assemble it in the state.”
“I am calling on the people of the state to be security conscious and vigilant; our people must be conscious of anything around them,” he said.
Jang further called Nigerians to stop playing politics with disasters.
"I am disappointed by the way some politicians in the country treat President Goodluck Jonathan; some of those criticizing Mr. President cannot proffer solutions to the insecurity in the country. Some were in government before and did not do better, but all they do is play politics with disasters. Whether they like it or not, President Goodluck Jonathan will win the 2015 elections by the grace of God”, he said.
On the Chibok saga, Jang said: “Mr. President is worried. Some of those insulting Mr. President that he has not done anything about it are ignorant. Nobody is untouchable in this country. I am calling on Mr. President to arrest those who have made utterances about making the country ungovernable."
In a related development, following the level of psychological trauma that befell citizens of Jos after the recent bomb blast, the federal government has said it would provide trauma counselling to survivors.
Ministers of Water Resources and that of Women Affairs, Sarah Ochekpe and Hajiya Zainab Maina, respectively, disclosed this while going round hospitals in Jos to assess the conditions of the victims of the blast.
According to Ochekpe, "President Goodluck Jonathan is worried and saddened about the bomb blast that has left scores dead and many others injured. And that is why he has directed me to visit the victims and to condole with the families that lost loved ones.
"The perpetrators and sponsors of bomb blasts in our country aim at destabilizing the entire nation. They are planning to sow the seed of mistrust and hatred among the adherent of faiths.
"Our President is assuring citizens that the federal government remains committed to winning the war against terror. He is urging Nigerians to be more vigilant.”
Ochekpe called on patriotic Nigerians to join in fishing out the perpetrators of the bomb blasts to save the lives of innocent Nigerians.
Also speaking, Maina, who took time to pray for the victims on admission, lamented that several women and children were killed in the blast.
While assuring that those behind the dastardly act would not go unpunished, Maina reassured women that President Jonathan was committed to uplifting the living condition of their conditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment