Nigeria President Jonathan Vows to End Terrorism, Says Adviser

Nigeria’s state security organizations have launched a joint investigation into Monday’s bombing in Nyanya, a suburb of the capital, Abuja that left at least 71 dead and many injured, says Reuben Abati, an adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan.

President Jonathan condemned the bombing after expressing his condolences to the families of the victims of the attack, and directed the medical services to ensure the injured received medical care.

Abati says all of Nigeria’s security services are working together to investigate the bombing.

“The investigations are continuing and [they are] an inter-agency collaborative effort. All the various security agencies are involved; the Police, the Civil Defense, the State Security Services and the various intelligence agencies of the military,” said Abati. “When the incident occurred, one of the perpetrators was also caught up in the explosion and he died. Some of the media houses have shown the pictures of the suicide bomber.”

Abati says security agencies have been placed on high alert in the capital, Abuja, and other parts of the country following the bombing.

“The president has ordered that security should be heightened in and around Abuja and across the country. Because the place where the bombing took place, Nyanya is just about four kilometers from Abuja,” said Abati. “Many of the people who work within the federal capital territory live in that area. Clearly, the threat is quite close and what happened is tragic, and when the president heard about it he was really sad.”

Abati says Jonathan is encouraging the media to educate Nigerians about the threats from terrorism and the need for their cooperation with security agencies to help combat terrorism in the country.

“The president reassured Nigerians that the government remains determined to put an end to the scourge of terrorism and that he is very optimistic that at the end of the day Nigerians will get over this particular problem,” said Abati.

Meanwhile the spokesman for Nigeria’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigerians to unite behind President Jonathan to end terrorism in the country.

Abdullahi Jalo condemned the attack. He also called on the international community to help the government in Abuja defeat terrorism in the country.

“There is a need for the western communities to quickly assist Nigeria so that this terrorism would be defeated,” said Jalo. “We call upon all Nigerians to stand up against these [terrorists]. Because if you are terrorizing and you say you are Boko Haram and you are killing people whom are you going to rule? Western education is part of us so there is no real purpose in doing this. They cannot get what they want.”

Clottey interview wth Reuben Abati, Adviser to Nigeria President Jonathan

Clottey interview with Abdullahi Jalo, PDP spokesman