Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, lamented Friday in Jos that the unabated reign of terror by the murderous Islamist sect – Boko Haram – has placed the country in a war situation, adding that until they are defeated, Nigeria would not know peace.
Jang was speaking in Jos while inspecting the scene of Tuesday’s twin bomb blast in the city’s market.
Describing the bombers as enemies of the country, Jang said nothing can stop President Goodluck Jonathan’s aspiration for next year.
Said he: “Nigeria is at war, and this is the worst kind of war to fight, as you do not know your enemies. Many of those who attack us are mostly from outside Plateau State, or outside the country. They bring their bomb materials from outside and assemble here in our State.
He continued: “When they come here, they don’t stay on trees, they stay in people’s houses and even the bombs are assembled in people’s houses. Why can’t we be patriotic enough to report them to the authorities?” he asked.
Thus, he urged security chiefs in the country to rally round President Goodluck Jonathan in fishing out the sponsors of the group.
Also, the governor urged Jonathan to take a decisive action against those that boasted that they will make the country un-governable for the present administration, adding that nothing will stop Jonathan from winning next year’s presidential elections.
The governor, who returned from a trip abroad, said he was told that the casualty figure from the bombing had risen to 78, adding that some of the bodies were mutilated with some parts missing.
According to him, “up till now we cannot estimate how many people suffered that devastation, but the final figure will come if members of the public, after sometimes, do not see their relations and understand that they were here, then we can collate the number; that means that the number will go higher.”
The governor challenged residents of the State to be security conscious and vigilant, and report suspicious characters or movements around them.
Jang, while advising politicians to stop playing politics with human lives, said: “I am disappointed the way some politicians in the country treat President Goodluck Jonathan. Some of those criticising Mr. President cannot proffer solutions to the insecurity in the country.
“Some were in government before and did not do better, but all they do is play politics with disasters. Whether they like it or not, President Goodluck Jonathan will win the 2015 elections by the grace of God.”
He said before the present state of insecurity in the country escalated, there were some persons who had vowed that they would make the country ungovernable.
He, therefore, suggested that such persons be arrested and made to explain the import of their statement. “Nobody is untouchable in the country,” he fumed.
