Vice President Kassim Shettima has condemned the bombing that killed about five people and injured several others at a mosque in Gamboru Market in Maiduguri, Borno State on the eve of Christmas.
He described the incident as a despicable attack on innocent citizens and the peace of the nation.
The accusation was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications.
Shettima assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is taking immediate steps to arrest those responsible and strengthen security in the region.
what the president is saying
The Vice President stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate intensification of security operations in Borno State.
He said additional tactical teams were dispatched to the area to track down and arrest the perpetrators of the attack.
Shettima stressed that the federal government will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the peace and security of the nation. He expressed his condolences to the Borno State government, residents and families of those who lost their loved ones, and assured that those responsible would face the full weight of the law.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the peace and security of our country. Our security agencies are working around the clock to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice immediately,” Vice President Shettima said.
He added: “Our sympathies go to the Borno State government, residents and families who lost loved ones in this attack. The Federal Government is confident that those responsible for this despicable act of terrorism will be brought to the fullest weight of the law.”
The Vice President expressed confidence that the current security framework is capable of not only apprehending the perpetrators, but also uncovering the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
He also said the federal government is working closely with state authorities and local security agencies to protect vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure in the Northeast and other regions.
back story
At least five people were killed on the eve of Christmas when a bomb exploded inside a crowded mosque in Gamboru Market in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. About 35 other people were reported to have been injured in the explosion, which occurred during evening prayers.
Unverified footage circulating on social media shows chaotic scenes of people moving through a dusty market area in the aftermath of the explosion.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but armed terrorist groups in the region have previously targeted mosques and other crowded places using suicide bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Maiduguri has long been the center of an insurgency led by Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Since 2009, these groups have been conducting a campaign in Borno state with the aim of establishing an Islamic caliphate.
What you need to know
In recent months, insecurity has continued to worsen in several states in Nigeria, including kidnappings of students, armed robberies, and attacks on communities in the northern and central regions.
These incidents have heightened public concern and highlighted the continuing threat posed by criminal organizations and extremist groups.
In response, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a national security emergency and ordered increased operations by the military, police and Department of State Services (DSS).
Following this designation and its rejection, the United States and Nigeria agreed to establish a joint working group to coordinate a new phase of defense and security cooperation following high-level engagement between the two countries in Washington, DC.
