2015 TUSSLE INCREASING TEMPO OF TERROR ATTACKS –FG

The Federal Government has raised the alarm that the race for the 2015 general elections is increasing the tempo of terrorist attacks in the country.
Featuring yesterday during the first edition of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) programme tagged “Good Morning Nigeria”, Information Minister Labaran Maku claimed that most of the recent bombings in Nigeria were orchestrated to achieve a political objective in the 2015 general elections.
According to him, bombs now explode whenever there is a major development in the country as a plot to discredit President Goodluck Jonathan and make Nigerians hate him.
“As we head towards 2015, more bombs are being exploded. And from the national and international intelligence services, we know as a fact that a lot of the bombings are aimed at a political objective,” said the minister.
“The security challenges we are facing, there seems to be a correlation. Each time there is a major development, the bombs would start exploding. We cannot use violence as an instrument for politics, and I am beginning to see that connection, and this is worrisome.”
Maku said too much politicking had made the war against insurgency very difficult, saying a number of actors leading anti-terror movements today have connection with the All Progressive Congress (APC) state governments.
Maku also accused the Nigerian print media of celebrating terrorism, saying the publicity given to terrorists was instigating their courage.
According to him, if the newspapers down-play their reportage of terror activities for six months, such activities would drastically go down.
He said different levels of governments must understand the meaning of the insurgency and the political actors must speak out saying past and present leaders, especially in Northern Nigeria, must stand up because the north is a vast region.
Speaking further, the minister said the abduction of the schoolgirls of Chibok, Borno State, had been a woe on the national conscience which, according to him, shows the depravity of terrorism.
“The abduction of the girls is one of the most traumatic experiences this country has passed through in the course of this insurgency,” he said.
“Young girls kidnapped midnight at gunpoint in a remote school because adequate security measures were not taken at the time to be able to defend that school because this is a state school and given the kind of situation operating in that state, there was a need for immediate greater preparation to secure that school. It’s not something we can do directly from Abuja” Maku said.
Source: Daily Trust