Boko Haram killing spree spreads

Posted by admin Borno, Plateau, State News, Top Stories Thursday, December 30th, 2010

MEMBERS of an Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in utter contempt for the authorities defiantly continued their killing spree, yesterday, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital killing seven persons. They attacked a police vehicle, the latest in a string of attacks by the group and wounded eight people.

A military spokesman said the vehicle was “burnt to ashes” in an attack by the Boko Haram group at a bus station in the Dala area of Maiduguri, one of two cities where churches were bombed on Christmas Eve that claimed six lives.

Only last Tuesday, members of the sect fired shots into a teaching hospital in Maiduguri killing a police officer and two others.
Boko Haram, which wants strict Islamic law imposed throughout Nigeria, claimed responsibility for the Christmas Eve bombings of churches in Maiduguri and Jos, and has been blamed for other attacks over the past week.

Plans to attack churches on New Year Eve uncovered

Meanwhile, Commander of the Special Task Force maintaining security in Plateau State, Brigadier General Hassan Umoru, said they have uncovered plans by some people to launch mass attack on churches on New Year Eve.

He, however, said the Task Force was battle ready to contain the situation adding that his men had been ordered to get down anyone trying to burn down or attack any place of worship.

Speaking with journalists, yesterday, he urged parents to warn their wards not to participate in any criminal act.
Vanguard learnt, however, that many churches had called off their “cross over” services as a result of the threat

Jonathan vows to fight terrorism

On his part, President Good luck Jonathan has assured that the nation would get over the problem of terrorism.

Speaking against the backdrop of recent blasts in Abuja, Jos and Yenagoa, the President who addressed South South delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party in Port Harcourt said a special body would be set up to address the problem.

Lagos CP holds talk with religious leaders

As part of proactive measures to ensure sustainable and uninterrupted peace in Lagos State, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, yesterday held an integrative meeting with religious leaders of both the Christian and Muslim groups.

The meeting which took place at the command’s headquarters, Ikeja had in attendance over 80 religious leaders.
While thanking the religious leaders for their collaborative effort in crime fighting and peace keeping in Lagos, Akpoyibo reminded them of the need to continue to discharge their individual and collective civic duties positively to ensure that th prevailing peace in the state is not undermined by criminal elements under any guise whatsoever.

Advising the religious leaders on measures that should be taken to ensure improved security in and around places of worship, Akpoyibo said that with effect from today until the festive period was over, there would be increased vigilance at churches, mosques and all religious gatherings

He said: “All vehicles to be parked at least a distance of 120 metres away from churches and mosques especially during tomorrow’s Jumat service and new year’s eve related services at churches”.

Borno Police Commissioner, Mohammed Abubakar, who confirmed the attacks, said: “Yes, we confirmed the serial and coordinated attacks and killings on the two churches. It is very unfortunate at this time of the Christmas season for the outlawed sect members to launch fresh attacks and killings on innocent citizens of this state without any cause.”

He said the armed sect members could have been arrested, if the Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, had heeded his warnings on the planned attacks of the rampaging outlawed sect members that resurfaced two weeks after the Zinnari community attacks.

Similarly, reacting to the attacks and killings, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, said in an interview in Maiduguri: “It is very unfortunate and sad for the Christian community to be attacked and killed without any genuine cause whatever. Prior to these attacks and killings, I alerted the police and other security agencies in the state to take no chances of any reprisals from the outlawed sect members,” stating that yesterday’s attacks and killings could have been prevented if the police had heeded his security advicewp_posts