.Orders military to crush insurgents
.Condemns lynching of 12 travellers in Plateau
In a decisive tone aimed at stamping out banditry in the country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday directed security agencies to redouble their efforts to defeat insurgents in the country.
Tinubu made the call while mourning the victims of a suicide bombing in Konduga, Borno State.
Tinubu, in a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, yesterday, described the attack as an act of cowardice.
While commiserating with the State Government and the Borno people over the incident, Tinubu also directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to support the survivors.
The statement read in part, “President Bola Tinubu has expressed anguish over the suicide bombing in Konduga, Borno State, at the weekend. The President mourned those who lost their lives, describing the attack as cowardly.
“He urged security agencies to double their efforts in routing remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents who resort to attacks on soft targets as a diversionary tactic.
“President Tinubu condoled with the Government and people of Borno State over the incident and directed the National Emergency Management Agency to support survivors.”
Reports said a bomb explosion occurred at about 9:30 pm on Friday at Tashan Kifi, an entry point also known as the fish market in Konduga town, killing about 10 persons, with over 12 sustaining injuries from the female suicide attacker.
Spokesperson of the Borno Police Command, ASP Daso Kenneth, said
“We received a distress call yesterday evening at about 10 pm; a female suicide bomber carrying Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), sneaked into a crowd at a local food market and detonated her explosives, leaving 10 people dead, with several others injured.
“Security agencies were able to clear the area, evacuate the victims, and the injured have been rushed to hospitals in Maiduguri for treatment,” Kenneth said.
Meanwhile, Tinubu has sympathised with the families of those killed or injured by an explosion in Kano State.
The explosion at a scrap metal factory affected 15 people, with five of them losing their lives. The explosion rocked the Gidan Karfe area along the Eastern Bypass in Kano City on Saturday.
The blast is believed to have been caused by explosive devices hidden among scrap materials transported from Yobe State.
President Tinubu stressed the importance of workplace safety and tasked relevant government institutions with investigating the incident.
Also yesterday, the president condemned the killing of 12 travellers in Plateau State. He said the freedom of movement for all citizens is “non-negotiable” and urged security forces to ensure the arrest and punishment of the culprits.
While describing the killings as heinous, unacceptable and barbaric, Tinubu directed the Police to work with other security and intelligence agencies to ensure those responsible for the attack are held accountable.
The President also commiserated with the victims’ families and the people and government of Plateau State, and called for calm, promising not to allow the dastardly act to go unpunished.
“The Government of Plateau State must take decisive action in handling these vicious cycles of violence. The state government must work with security agents to get to the root of this recent incident and use it as a deterrent against future occurrences.
“Freedom of movement by all citizens is non-negotiable. We will not tolerate any attempt by anyone or group of people to curtail that fundamental freedom through acts of extreme violence and fear,” he said.