Attacks In North East Dangerous For Nigeria’s Unity —Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned in the strongest terms the latest round of ethnic and religious terrorist attacks in Jigawa, Gombe and in Mubi and Jimeta, Adamawa State, by yet to be identified gunmen.

Speaking to newsmen on Saturday evening, shortly on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,Atiku said the killing of 30 innocent Nigerians by bandits was not only criminal and barbaric but also a dangerous threat to the unity of this country, especially coming two weeks after the terrorist attack on Christian worshippers at the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church at Madalla on Christmas Day.

This spiral of violence, he said, is unacceptable because it was targeted at destroying Nigeria’s hard efforts to sustain unity in diversity.

According to Atiku, the attack on defenceless citizens anywhere carries the risk of polarising the nation and weakening the efforts to take a united stand against terrorists and their evil agenda.

He said that at a time leaders were making efforts to find solutions to these mindless and cruel incidents of terrorist violence, some bandits with hideous motives appeared determined to set Nigerians against one another.

He called for increased vigilance by security agents, wondering how bandits could wipe out lives with impunity without detection or intervention by those trained to protect the citizens.

Atiku noted that one of the basic duties of any government include the protection of its citizens anywhere they reside in the country.

He warned of dangerous consequences of targeting members of other ethnic groups or followers of other religions.

The Turaki Adamawa expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims of the latest violence on innocent citizens by the Boko Haram.

He also expressed solidarity with the government and people of Adamawa State and the rest of the country over this national tragedy.