No hiding place for terrorism sponsors, members of Boko Haram – Jonathan

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    Suleja – President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday pledged that there would be no hiding place for sponsors of members of the terrorist group, `Boko Haram’ which had claimed responsibilities for a number of terror attacks in the country.

    The president stated this shortly after he inspected the Christmas day bombs explosion site at the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.

    Jonathan said there would be no sacred cow in the fight against the terrorist group and their sponsors.

    He said his government had reviewed the activities of the group and would begin implementing new measures to contain their activities.

    Specifically, Jonathan said that he would take some decisive measures in some places in the country that were notorious with Boko Haram attacks including Suleja Local Government Area in Niger State.

    “ We’ll begin from tonight take some different measures, different approach to fighting `Boko Haram’ and we must weed them out of our society.

    “But Suleja is a particular local government that is becoming very notorious in terms of terrorism.

    “All the terrorist attacks in Niger State had taken place in Suleja. Luckily the chairman of council is here.

    “I am going to turn this local government upside down. If there are institutions here that are harbouring criminality we are going to deal with it decisively.

    “Niger State is a very big state and any terrorist attack is in Suleja, so my belief is that there are some institutions or individuals in Suleja that are harbouring terrorists and we’ll deal with it decisively.

    “And any part of this country; any individual or group of individuals, whether traditional institutions or religious institutions associated with terrorists will be dealt with decisively. There will be no sacred cows.’’

    The president promised that he would give the nation details on how he planned to contain the group.

    He condoled with the Catholic Church, the government and people of Niger State over the Christmas day attack and assured that his government would do everything possible to protect lives and property.

    Jonathan said he had not visited the site of the bomb explosions earlier in order not to disrupt investigations being carried out by security agencies.

    Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, who was at the bomb site to receive President Jonathan, said that he was happy with the resolve of the Federal Government to contain Boko Haram.

    He said Suleja was notorious for terrorism because of its proximity to Abuja adding that the state would welcome any step taken by the Federal Government to address the problem.

    The governor said that the committee he set up on compensation for victims of the Christmas day explosions had concluded work and that he would be making its recommendations public on Jan. 2, 2012.

    Aliyu said government would assess the extent of damage done to property on the day of explosion and compensate victims.

    Earlier, the parish priest of the church, Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi thanked the president for the visit and assured him of the cooperation of his parishioners.

    Achi said the parishioners had forgiven the perpetrators of the dastardly act which left dozens of the church’s members dead and wounded and many of their properties damaged. (NAN)

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    No hiding place for terrorism sponsors, members of Boko Haram – Jonathan