16th July, 2014
President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to bring to justice individuals responsible for crimes against humanity in the country and their sponsors.
Jonathan spoke while inaugurating the recently constituted committee on the Victims Support Fund. The fund is an initiative of the federal government aimed at mobilising resources to support victims of terrorist activities in the country.
The 26-member committee, chaired by former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), is saddled with the task of raising the targeted N30 billion fund.
The president reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to ensuring that terrorists have no hiding place in the country.
He said that the federal government would win the war against Boko Haram and their sponsors.
Jonathan described the terrorist group as an assemblage of heartless individuals, which has taken it upon itself to bring evil upon the country.
“In their mission, the group has turned women to widows and reduced children to orphans, killed, maimed and struck fear into law-abiding citizens.
“The country is facing the reality that it is confronted with individuals whose minds have been so twisted and tutored to believe they are doing God a service by their actions.
“Let me reiterate clearly that evil will never prevail over good. We will never waste any effort in bringing the individuals responsible for crimes against humanity to justice,” he said.
Jonathan noted that victims of terrorism in the country needed comfort and succour, hence the establishment of the Victims Support Fund.
“We cannot replace the life of a child that has been snuffed out. We cannot replace the lives of men and women who have been killed.
“We cannot return broken limbs to their original state. We cannot take away the trauma that people have been put through. Their memories are scared, some for the rest of their lives, over whys they knew nothing about.
“The best we can do in this circumstance is to offer them a shoulder to lean on and to stretch out our hands of fellowship and tell them we feel their pains and share their sorrow,” Jonathan said.
The committee, according to him, is a part of ongoing efforts to provide a comprehensive solution to the menace of terrorism.
He said that the committee would provide a framework through which all persons and institutions who wish to help to make their contribution.
“The victims support fund committee will help to mobilise collective efforts and resources in support for the victims.
“I appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians and non-Nigerians, individuals and corporate bodies to give generously to this fund.
“The victims need our sympathy and empathy. We have to show that we care and can never give way or give in to agents of evil,” he said.
In his remarks, Danjuma assured Jonathan and Nigerians that the committee would carry out its mandate diligently.
“We will raise the fund, we will disburse it, I promise you we will do so diligently and transparently, but we must win this war Mr President.”
NAN reports that the membership of the committee, which has Mr Fola Adeola as Vice Chairman, comprised representatives of the police, military, NEMA, UN, and other local and international organisations.