‘Why Nigeria should sign defence pact with U.S over terrorism’
THE United Nations Security Council has condemned the Monday bomb explosion in a bus station in Nigeria that killed 72 persons and injured 124 others.
Also, the United States (U.S.) vehemently condemned the attack while calling for a full investigation into the bombing.
It also reaffirmed its support to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism.
The 15-member Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations was criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation.
It said in a press statement on Tuesday in New York that ``Wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group’’.
The UN body reaffirmed the need to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
``The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice,’’ the statement said.
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, had earlier expressed shock and sadness about the attack.
He strongly condemned all indiscriminate killings and acts of violent extremism.
According to AFP, Washington however, called for a full investigation into the bombing.
"We are outraged by this senseless act of violence against innocent civilians," State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, also condemning a series of attacks on three villages in Borno State over the weekend.
The bomb rocked the Nyanya station on Abuja's southern outskirts as it was filled with morning commuters, leaving body parts scattered across the terminal and destroying dozens of vehicles.
Just as President Goodluck Jonathan blamed Boko Haram militants for the attack, but Psaki called for a "full investigation to identify and bring justice to the perpetrators of these attacks."
She added: “We continue to stand with the Nigerian government and people as they grapple with violent extremism.”
“Washington was working with the Nigerian "government and its neighbors to address the growing threat of Boko Haram in a comprehensive manner," Psaki said, but warned it was too early to say the attack had been carried out by Boko Haram.
The United States has designated Nigeria's radical Islamist Boko Haram network and an offshoot known as Ansaru as terror groups in November, bowing to months of pressure to act.
The State Department has offered a $7 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.
A German non-governmental organization, Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), described the blast as an attempt to destabilize Nigeria.
Country Representative, KAS, Hildegard Behrendt-Kigozi, told participants at a workshop in Abuja on ‘The cooperation between Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media on security challenges,’ that it was unimaginable that such violence could be unleashed on innocent citizens.
She urged the cooperation of the Nigeria government, the media and CSOs to ensure and sustain security in the country.
Journalism professional, Jubril Ndace, recommended more use of the social media to disseminate information and ideas fast, international networking with other CSOs and NGOs to improve professionalism in terms of expertise, experience, values, strategic information management and awareness on how to handle legal, political and socio-cultural challenges.
He said that the establishment of CSO report desk by media houses for effective coverage of elections as their reporters cannot be everywhere.
He stressed need for journalism training for CSOs on reporting, openness and sustainable relationship between them and the Media via regular updates and need to work out necessary mechanism to achieve peaceful electoral process in 2015
He stressed the importance of such training to strengthen the proposed platform for effective information sharing as well as the need for the print Media to provide columns for citizen education and mobilization towards 2015 involving CSOs.
Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN) also condemned the dastardly act of terrorism.
In a statement by Executive Director Laolu Akande, it said: “Rising from its first Advisory Board meeting in Houston on Sunday evening, the leaders and the entire membership of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN woke up Monday morning to the devastating news that another Boko Haram bomb attack had killed at least 71 and injured 124 innocent Nigerians in a satellite town close to Abuja.
“We observe that this killing was set as Christians all over the world entered into the Passion Week leading to the Resurrection Sunday, Easter celebrations. We are therefore not unawares of the wiles of the enemy. Media reports say 16 luxury buses and 24 mini-buses including some intending to transport people to work and some possibly on their way home heading South were set ablaze in several explosions.
“Initial indications are that those targeted in this barbaric attack included several Christians who were traveling to observe the Easter holidays with friends and family. Now and again, families who had expectations of a happy reunion during this time of Christian celebrations are being foreceffuly fed this cup of sorrow.
“What a travesty!”
CANAN added: “Just over the weekend in two Borno State villages, home to many Christians, another 38 people had been killed by he same despicable terrorists.
“We share in the pain of the relatives of the victims both the dead and the injured and we demand from the federal government a serious and effective solution to curb is rising wave of terrorism and violence in the land.
“Three states in Northeastern Nigeria have become the hotbed of Boko Haram attacks in recent times and now the attack of a town close to the capital of the country at a time and season such as Easter is another proof of the major underlying target of Boko Haram terrorism.
“CANAN is very annoyed not just at the unrelenting acts of the terrorists to take human life so wantonly, but also at increasing failure of the constituted authorities in Nigeria to protect life and property. This arrant waste of innocent life must stop!
“CANAN insists that the Nigerian authorities must work harder to protect the freedom of Nigerian Christians to practice their faith.
“We agree with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon that " the perpetrators of this attack and those responsible for the continuing brutal attacks in the northeast of the country, must be brought to justice. "
“We again reject the argument that poverty is the main cause of these attacks and hope those making that argument will consider the prevailing poverty in other parts of the country which has not degenerated to the kind of wanton violence we set perpetrated by Boko Haram. Poor people sure needs developmental efforts, but poor people can afford the resources maintaining this prolonged insurgency.
“We reiterate our call to the US government to expedite its plans to help the federal government in better managing this situation so as to preserve the lives of innocent Nigerians who are being killed maliciously.
“After its inaugural yearly Advisory Board meeting, consisting of national trustees and chapter coordinators of the association across the US, CANAN restates its resolve to continue to protect the interests of Nigerian Christians and all innocent Nigerians, everywhere, while also projecting the image of Nigerian-Americans here in the US and globally.
“CANAN will also continue to work actively with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, to address pertinent areas of concern and welfare of its members and the nation.”
Besides, following the increase in killings by insurgents in the country, Nigeria should immediately consider signing a defence pact with the United States of America, former Commissioner at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko has said.
Onwubiko, in an interview with The Guardian , said the need for the engagement of foreign experts was overdue.
Onwubiko, who is also the national co-ordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), said the defence pact could lead to the establishment of a military training camp near Nigeria's borders with neighbouring Chad.
He said the camp would enable Nigeria's military and other multi- national forces to be trained regularly and made ready to make the West African region free of terrorists.
His words, "since Cameroon has a binding defence pact with France and it has helped to stabilise Cameroon for many years, there is nothing untoward if Nigeria can enter a defence pact with either U.S.A or UK, I do seriously think that Nigeria should invite the UN to intervene because it is crystal clear that Nigerian state as currently constituted cannot guarantee the security of her citizens.
Since the primary purpose of government is the security of lives and property, it is imperative that the Federal Government takes all measures to protect Nigerians and check ongoing mass murder and massacre of Nigerians by terrorists.”
According to Onwubiko, "Nigeria can quickly work out modalities also to introduce compulsory military training for all adults and issue licenses for arms to persons without insanity record and those without criminal past to promote effective self-defence and national defence mechanisms."
Buttressing his call for foreign military intervention and possible defence pact with the U.S, he said section 12 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 as amended provides legal backing for it.
" All it will take is for the National Assembly to sign on to the decision of the executive arm in that direction," he stressed.
He noted further, "a stitch in time saves nine. Enough of these mass killings and whereby sovereignty of Nigeria is endangered, no measure to safeguard it and restore Nigeria to the path of strength is too much. Nigeria as a member of the international community must not allow undue national pride to stop government from doing the needful to salvage Nigeria and chase out these terrorists and gangsters. The time for comprehensive actions against terrorists’ threats is now. No half measures are effective.”
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