Teddy Nwanunobi, Abuja
Following the twin bomb blasts at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State on the early hours of Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday, called on residents to increase their vigilance to defeat Boko Haram.
This is even as the leader of the Islamic sect, Abubakar Shekau, has taken responsibility for the bomb blasts that occurred at the University.
In an emailed statement issued by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, NLC noted that the Islamic terror gang has obviously regrouped among residents across the country, and prepared themselves for soft targets.
Wabba warned that the present situation is as dangerous and frightening as asymmetry warfare, which is more threatening to lives and property than can be imagined.
“We received the news of the unfortunate suicide bomb attack at the University of Maiduguri in the early hours of this Monday with deep grief as it is coming so soon, after the military massive attack on the Sambisa Forest, where members of the Boko Haram terrorist group had operated for over seven years.
“The attack, which took the lives of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, as well as students of the University, including a Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Aliyu Mani, who until his death, was the Director of the University’s Veterinary Hospital, also injured over 17 people, who are workers and students of the University.
“While we appreciate and commend the Nigerian military and security agencies for the successes achieved so far on the decisive battle against the terrorists, it is important that the security agencies go further by intensifying intelligence as the terror gang has obviously regrouped among residents across the country, and prepared themselves for soft targets.
“This is as dangerous and frightening as asymmetry warfare is more threatening to lives and property than can be imagined. Nowhere in the country is safe under asymmetry warfare.
“We urge residents everywhere in the country to be vigilant as the various vigilante groups in the North-East evidently played commendable roles in the battle against terrorism. These groups should be encouraged, while every resident should maintain vigilance, and watch out for strange objects and suspicious persons, who may have mixed up with the populace to unleash mayhem.
“We emphasise citizen’s vigilance because it is only the citizens and residents of every community that can clearly identify strange faces.
“All parents should advise their children and wards to avoid collecting any item from strange people as it has also become clearer that unsuspecting children are being used by the terrorists to drop bags containing deadly devices in congregations of all types, especially places of worship.
“We condole with the families of those who died in the twin suicide attacks as well as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the University authority and the government of Borno State. We urge government to give all those injured in the attack the best medical care to enable them recover as quickly as possible,” Wabba said.
The twin bomb blasts at the University were the first time the residents of the community would experience a direct attack by the dreaded group since the beginning of insurgency in Nigeria.
It was carried out by a seven-year-old suicide bomber.
Meanwhile, Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the twin bomb blasts at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State on Monday early morning.
The Group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, who made the claim through an audio in Hausa on Monday night, claimed that they carried out the attack because the University was mixing “Islam with democracy.”
“The bomb that happened this morning, it’s my people. Don’t deceive people that it’s a mosque. How would you build a mosque and do ungodly things in it?
“We are not angry with Nigeria. You didn’t kill anyone in Sambisa. We are praying that we don’t change. Koran is our teacher. This is the message we are sending to you. Are you (Buhari) as powerful as God?
“You should know it’s Shekau talking, and I’m alive, and it’s we that did it. Even if King Pharaoh repents, we will not accept it,” Shekau said in the recording.
