Date: 2016-10-14

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday condemned the bomb blast in Maiduguri and the reported clashes between security agents and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise called Shiites in some parts of Kaduna, Kano and Katsina States on Wednesday.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, commiserated with victims of the unfortunate suicide attack, especially at a time the Federal Government has stepped up efforts aimed at total eradication of the menace of Boko Haram and keeping Nigerians safe from all forms of criminality.

While calling on the security agencies to gear up towards foiling such surreptitious attacks by the largely defeated insurgents, he called on Nigerians to be extra vigilant as they go about their daily businesses.

Saraki said: "If this stealthy suicide attack by the insurgents is meant to divert government's commitment and focus at ensuring absolute peace and security, rehabilitation and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East, then they have clearly failed."

"The Government shall not waiver in its resolve to restore normalcy in the region even as it will continue operations aimed at routing the last vestiges of these outlaws," he said.

On the clashes between members of the Shiites group and security operatives on the one hand and the attacks on suspected members of the group by some civilians, the Senate President called for restraint on the part of the security agencies while urging Nigerians not to take laws into their hands, notwithstanding the level of provocation.

He said: "The fact remains that the security agencies have the sole duty to enforce laws, protect citizens and maintain law and order. However, I call on the security agencies to exercise restraint in dealing with internal crisis so as to prevent avoidable loss of lives and property, while all aggrieved persons must of necessity adopt the use of dialogue in resolving their grievances."