SECURITY agencies, including the Defence Headquarters, Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service on Monday introduced enhanced measures to contain attacks by the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Correspondents report the presence of armed security men at the Defence Headquarters, headquarters of the police and the SSS. They also report the deployment of Armoured Personnel Carriers in some of these formations and the use of concrete barriers to control traffic.

Analysts say the heightening of security may have been the authorities’ response to the Christmas Day multiple bombings in Niger, Yobe and Plateau states in which a total of 37 people were killed and many others wounded. At least 35 were reported dead in the attack on the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Suleja, Niger State.

Correspondents also learnt on Monday that 24 corpses of victims of the attack on the church had been deposited at the National Hospital, Abuja. There were speculations that the numbers of casualties in the bombings of the church early on Sunday as parishioners were celebrating the Nativity Mass could be more than the authorities announced.

Also on Monday, the Senate President, David Mark, described the bombings as a declaration of war against the people of the country. “The spate of bombings and violence in parts of the country was a direct affront and a declaration of war against the citizens of Nigeria,” Mark said in his reaction to the Sunday bombings.



APCs deployed

At the Force headquarters located at Area 11, three APCs were on Monday stationed around the building. While two of the APCs were stationed at two ends of the fence, the third was used to block the second gate leading to the building.

The first gate was permanently locked with concrete barriers used to block the road that leads to the building itself.

Motorists were diverted to another road, thereby creating a light traffic, which would have been worse if not for the public holiday.

Two black Ford Jeeps were also stationed at the two gates of the building, with riot policemen watching over the area.

Boko Haram had on June 16, 2011 attacked the Police headquarters, leading to the death of a suicide bomber and a policeman. About 70 vehicles were also burnt or destroyed in the attack.

The attack had come few days after the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, had visited the North-Eastern town of Maiduguri, Borno State, the base of Boko Haram, and vowed to defeat the group.

At the Defence Headquarters located at Area 8, security was also tight as stern, heavily armed soldiers kept vigil at the buildings. The headquarters of the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force are all located within the Defence Headquarters.

Two green Ford Jeeps were also used to cordon off the road in front of the buildings.

Following the attack on its Yobe State Command on Sunday by some members of the Boko Haram sect in which three operatives were killed, the SSS has also cordoned off the road leading to its headquarters.

The agency had earlier blocked a lane with concrete bars leaving only a single lane for motorists to ply, but the spate of bombings by the Islamic sect in recent days had made the Service to completely cordon off the two lanes.

Our correspondents who passed through the area observed that five pick-up vehicles were used to block off the road leading to the expansive complex thereby forcing motorists to share only one lane.

The vehicles were occupied by armed SSS officers, seen watching passing vehicles.

The blockage of the roads followed the attack on the SSS office in Damaturu where a lone suicide bomber attempted to attack the State Command Headquarters of the service around 12.45 pm on Sunday.

The incident occurred as the convoy of the Commanding Officer of the 241 Recce Battalion, Nguru, Yobe State, Col. Dahiru Abdusalam, was driving into the headquarters complex for a security meeting.

The suicide bomber attempted to force his way into the convoy but was stopped by guards. However, when his vehicle collided with the gate, the impact resulted in an explosion.

The incident claimed the lives of three SSS operatives and the suicide bomber while one person was injured. The APC stationed outside the office was also damaged.



Madalla residents

Meanwhile, residents of Madalla have yet to recover from the shock of the bombings on Monday.

A computer institute proprietor, Emmanuel Ehikwe, said members of the sect had attacked a number of non-Muslims in the market, including policemen, even before the Monday attack.

He said, “I had to run away from this town about four months ago when the secret killings persisted.

“I was getting strange calls from people I don’t know and coupled with the secret killings of a number of non-Muslims by Boko Haram members, I ran away from Madala. I just came back a little while ago when I learnt the incident had abated.”

Ehikwe, whose three-storey building was damaged by the blast, lamented the inability of the government and security agencies to protect lives and property.

Another resident who did not disclose his name said residents might be forced to defend themselves if the attack on Christians continued.



Burnt victims

A medical officer, who asked not to be mentioned, said that most of the corpses deposited at the National Hospital morgue were burnt beyond recognition.

“It was a gory spectacle because they were all burnt beyond recognition while some had their bodies mutilated by the explosion. The severity of the burns is greater compared to the United Nations blast. The materials used for the bombs must have been very advanced,” the medical doctor said.

At the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Hospital, injured victims were seen receiving treatments.

A source in the hospital told our correspondent that due to the severity of the burns and injuries, most of the victims were likely to be transferred to other hospitals.

A victim, Peter Nsude, said, “After the church service, I came out and somebody was greeting me, as we shook hands, saying ‘Happy Christmas,’ the bomb exploded. I was with my two sons, but it’s only me that was injured, nothing happened to my children.”

At the General Hospital in Asokoro in Abuja, officials refused to give details on the condition of the injured victims in their care.



Senate enraged

The Senate President, who was quoted in a statement issued by the Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, asked all leaders to preach the gospel of peace, love and reconciliation. “God did not make mistake to keep us together as a people with a common mission and destiny,” he said.

Abaribe warned that a recourse to stoking religious disharmony had the capacity of throwing Nigeria into unending conflict.

“It is inconceivable that sane minds will just wake up with only one devilish thing in mind; to cause sorrow to families, inflict deep psychological trauma on the society, all with the satanic aim of drawing Nigeria to an unfortunate period of hatred and crisis.

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a symbol of Nigeria’s unity shall resist this attempt to drag us to internal conflict and disunity.

“This spate of bombings is becoming an annual ritual. It is one too many and which has cast the country as a terrorist hot spot in international community.

“We have exhibited the tenacity to curb this menace by collaborating with all stake holders and the executive in the past and will continue to service do so until the problem is over. Unfortunately, the Boko Haram has claimed responsibility to the latest orgy of violence.”






culled from wwwpunchng.com