Why Attacks by Boko Haram Persists, By SSS

Nigeria

Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Ekpeyong Ita, at the weekend, said “the negligence of Nigerians” was responsible for the rising waves of Boko Haram attacks in the country.

This however came on a day Senate President, David Mark, took a swipe at those arguing that the sect members were not out against Christians.

But Ita, who made the assertion at a retreat organised by the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), in Jos, Plateau State capital, challenged Nigerians to be more proactive in their support to security agencies and and also to be more security conscious.

“Many Nigerians still believe that they cannot fall victim of boko haram attacks; some may say that it is not their portion instead of doing something to safeguard their lives and property from such attack. For instance, many Nigerians still don’t know their neighbours and their means of livelihood but the fact is that you may be living next to a Boko Haram member,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Ita as saying negligence and care-free attitude of Nigerians had led to the loss of many lives and property worth billions of naira to the activities of criminals  in the country.

Represented by the Plateau State Director of SSS, Mr. Christian Ojobo, Ita said taming the current security challenge was not the responsibility of the security agencies alone.
“In the last 10 years, no one knew about Boko Haram or suicide bombing in Nigeria. Security is not the business of those charged with the act of protecting lives and property alone rather, it is everybody’s business. So I urge all Nigerians to be security conscious and alert at all times.”

Meanwhile, Mark who spoke at the first plenary session of this  year of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral in Abuja, said the report that the unrelenting attacks by Boko Haram on churches were not targeted at Christians was flawed and lacked merit.

“When I visited victims at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, I also made it clear to the Catholic faithful to forgive those who committed the atrocities that killed their members, while we ask Catholic faithful to forgive, the state laws must be obeyed. It is not for the state to forgive, the state must make sure that those who commit these atrocities are punished adequately and enough, so that those who may want to think of it will not contemplate it,” he said.

Instead, he deplored the lopsided reasoning of those advancing the cause of Boko Haram, saying: “Boko Haram has now become a topical issue in our country. We all have to address it and address it squarely. I see through the pages of newspapers that there are those who say Boko Haram are not against Christians. If you go and bomb a church, and you say it’s not against Christians, who is it against then? That, to me, is logic upside down and a shallow argument. People should be bold enough to tell those who are doing these things to stop. This country belongs to all of us. Nobody has more rights than the other. This is the challenge I want the Catholic Bishops to press on today.”

Speaking also, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememem, assured the gathering of government’s resolve to ensure security of lives and property, as well as bring those who commit acts of terrorism to book.

Earlier, the bishops in a paper titled: “Our Christian Witnessed in Trying Times” had bemoaned the continuous victimisation of Christians specifically by the Boko Haram attacks, warning that any attempt to force Islam on Christians would be rejected vehemently. The paper which was presented by Archbishop John Onaiyekan, maintained that Nigeria as a secular state should not be pushed to the brink by insistence of some groups on religious dominance.

“Those who consider other religions as “undesirable” create the atmosphere for Boko Haram to grow and strive, those who have been pursuing an agenda of extreme fanaticism are giving justification to the excesses of suicide bombers,” the bishops observed.

President of CBCN and Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job, in his welcome address, said the Christmas Day bombings affected the church with great devastation.

Job who urged the government to wake up to its task of security tasked Christians across the country to remain resolute with the teachings of the Christians faith.

Speaking in the same vein, the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, called on the Federal Government and security agencies to act fast in the spirit of unity as the attacks by Boko Haram were getting out of control.
“As I speak, the headquarters of COCIN Church in Jos, Plateau State have been attacked, I don’t have the actual figures of casualties yet, we expect government and security agencies to act fast as Nigeria is sliding,” Orisejafor said.

The bishops’ conference which was held amid tight security around the Area 3, part of Abuja is expected to come to an end with a communique during the week.

Source: thisdaylive.com