President: we\u2019ll get better security team<\/p>\n
THE President told Nigerians last night to remain calm in the face of the country\u2019s security challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr Goodluck Jonathan assured all that the government is on top of the situation. Some arrests have been made and suspects will soon be prosecuted, he told a Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) team, led by its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some countries facing similar attacks have offered help to Nigerians, the President said.<\/span><\/p>\n Besides, he spoke of plans to restructure and re-adjust the security system to produce a team that will meet the challenges. He gave no details.<\/span><\/p>\n To the Christian leaders, the attacks on churches, including the Christmas Day bombings in Madalla, Niger State, Jos, Damaturu and Maiduguri is a declaration of war on Christians. The death toll in the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, near Abuja incident has been put at 34. A suicide bomber drove into worshippers as they filed out after the early morning Mass, setting off explosives.<\/span><\/p>\n Pastor Oritsejafor, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja meeting last night, blamed the attacks on Islamic, religious and traditional rulers, who, he said, are not publicly condemning the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram (Western education is a sin).<\/span><\/p>\n The CAN president, who stressed that Christians have lost confidence in the government\u2019s ability to protect Christians, however, assured President Jonathan of CAN\u2019s continuous prayers and support for his administration.<\/span><\/p>\n CAN\u2019s prepared text reads: \u201cAfter consultation with Christian community which constitutes the majority of the Nigerian population, I have been mandated to convey that \u2018The Christian community in Nigeria is deeply sorrowed over the deteriorating state of insecurity in the country and apparent inability of the government to protect and guarantee lives, churches and properties of our members. Our hearts especially go out to the bereaved families of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing at Madalla, Jos, Damaturu and Maiduguri where over 50 Christian faithful have been reported killed through the most recent attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe concern of the Christian community is further heightened by the admittance by government itself that it has knowledge of the perpetrators of these crimes. Unfortunately, there are no convincing high profile arrests to assuage public anxiety over this matter.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHaving reviewed the pattern trend and frequency with which these terror crimes occur, it fits into the profile of Islamic Jihad over the years on the Christian community, which are properly contextualised. It is considered as a declaration of war on Christians and Nigeria as an entity.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Christian community has found the responses of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and other Islamic bodies on this matter to be unacceptable and an abdication of their responsibilities over their extremist members. It is on record that most religious, traditional and political leaders in the North have not come out openly to condemn the extremist activities of Boko Haram. We hold them responsible for what is happening, because they have not taken concrete steps to check the excesses of their members.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Christian community is fast losing confidence in government\u2019s ability to protect our rights to religious liberties and life. The consensus is that the Christian community nationwide would be left with no other option than to respond appropriately if there are any further attacks on our members, churches and properties.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe wish to reassure Mr. President of our continued support and prayers for the success of his government. Thank you, God bless you and bless Nigerians.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n President Jonathan replied:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLet me express my personal condolences and that of my family and indeed that of the government and people of this country to CAN for the Christmas incidents at the Madallah Church and those of Yobe and Jos and, of course, to the families that lost their loved ones in the ugly incidents.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have listened attentively to the statement of CAN, but let me again reassure CAN and indeed Nigerians that any terror attack on any individual or structure in this country is an attack on all of us because terrorists don\u2019t have boundary. That is why some of them can even go to the extreme of suicide bombing. You see somebody throw an explosive into the market, he does not even care whether his father or mother is there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He described terrorism as ugly, adding: \u201cThat is why some people described it as attack of the evil ones on a decent society. Yes, one will expect government to do more and government will surely do more. One thing I normally mention is that yes, we have been coping with criminals in this country. The most ferocious are the armed robbers. We never experienced armed robbery before the civil war. It was after the civil war Nigeria started experiencing armed robbery. Since then, government has been battling armed robbery. But then, this terror attack is new to us, but I can assure you that we are doing our best to make sure that we get over it. Other countries that have experienced it are also helping us. Both African and non-African countries that have suffered attacks are assisting. I encourage Nigerians to work with government because when we work together collectively, we will get over it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe terrorists are human beings; they are not spirits; they live with us, they dine with us. We know them; people know them. As long as Nigerians are committed to exposing them, we will get over this ugly situation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAt the security level, we are doing our best; we will restructure; we will re-adjust and make sure we get a team that will meet with the challenge we are facing today.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen in December, 2009 a Nigerian was caught on a flight to US, we were all surprised and embarrassed. We thought such people were not living with us that probably he was contaminated outside. Now we have come to meet the reality that we have terrorists and even suicide bombers among us. We must fish them out; we only ask for the cooperation of all Nigerians.<\/span><\/p>\n