Bombings: Atiku calls for foreign assistance

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has expressed anger and sadness at the bombings of the Nyanya Bus Park in the suburbs of Abuja that left scores dead and many injured.

The former Vice-President said, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, that this needless bloodletting cannot continue unabated and requires new strategies to nip it in the bud. He described those behind the bombings as evil and callous, with scant regard for the sanctity of human life.

Atiku said the latest bombings by insurgents should be a wake-up call to all Nigerians on the imperative of ending the trade-blame game and working together to end this scourge.

“As a country, we are not doing enough of focusing on and implementing solutions,” the former Vice President said. “We are all guilty of expending endless energy on handwringing and the trading of blame, none of which is able to save lives or change the status quo.”

The former Vice President recalled that government had, in February this year, spoken about its successes in pushing Boko Haram to the “fringes” of the North East, where a state of emergency currently exists in a number of states, and where the Boko Haram terrorist group has carried out many recent and deadly attacks.

“The bombings, which took place at a motor park in Nyanya a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, automatically cast doubts on the claims of containing the crisis to the fringes of the country.

“There is an urgent need for the government of Nigeria to review its methods and strategies for dealing with terrorism,” Atiku said.

He called for a step up in intelligence, listening posts, picking up trends and conversations with a view to pre-empting terrorist attacks.

The former Vice President also stated that it is time for Nigeria to accept foreign assistance with fighting terrorism in the country.