A United States Mayo has described weekend’s suicide bombing in Gwoza, Borno by teenagers, including one with a baby strapped to her back, as cowardly.
Mr Mike Arnold, Mayor of Bianco, Texas, said the action is the “dying kick” of a horse, meant to draw undue attention, rather than a slap on the security in the Northeast.
The US Mayor in a statement yesterday said the blasts on soft targets by suspected Boko Haram elements showed that the terrorist organisation had been degraded and disorientated.
The United Nations (UN) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the bombing, which they described as dastardly
The Mayor said: “This weekend’s suicide bombing at a wedding in the community of Gwoza, Borno State, in Northeast Nigeria, was a desperate act of a defeated and discredited movement. While this is no consolation to families and friends of the victims, there is hope amid this tragedy.”
According to him, “It shows that great progress has been made in the past year under the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The fact that Boko Haram has resorted to soft opportunistic targets, using women and children, is a sign that this is the last kick of a dying horse. “
Arnold, who is also the founder of an international non-governmental organisation, Africa Arise International, which serves IDPs from Gwoza, said he had visited Nigeria 14 times since 2010, and that his last trip a few weeks ago revealed that security forces had done a great job clearing major highways in the North of bandits.
“I have spent years investigating first-hand the issues of persecution and violence, and can say without any equivocation that Nigeria is a different country than what it was a year ago,” he said, adding, “The spirit of oppression has lifted, and there is a sense that things are on the right track.”
The weekend bombing disrupted several years of end to IED explosions in the North-eastern state, raising fears that the Boko Haram terrorists might be on bomb attacks resurgence.
But Arnold said this was not likely, contending that the latest blasts were a desperate move by the terrorists to gain public attention and raise funds for their dying endeavour.
“As their support has been pounded to insignificance, these groups are trying desperately to remain relevant. This evil act was clearly an attempt to re-gain global headlines so they can once again raise funds from outside Nigeria, and kickstart recruiting,” he said.
The mayor called on the international media not to give them the attention they sought by overblowing the recent attack. “That is what they want. Please, don’t give it to them,” he pleaded.
Despite the blast, he praised the efforts of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and said the weekend bombings did not in any way diminish his fight against terrorism, pointing out that since he came on board, Boko Haram had been unable to launch frequent raids on military bases as they used to undertake in the past.
President Tinubu said his administration was determined to ‘’ completely remove all those troubling the nation with violence.’’
The President described the four attacks by teenage female suicide bombers, including one with a baby strapped to her back, as ‘’desperate and isolated acts’’ by degraded cowards.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), the United States, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar , Amnesty International, and Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume also denounced the attacks.
The incidents happened at Mararaban Gwoza, a burial ground, a shopping mall, and a security checkpoint where a soldier was among those killed.
Barkindo Saidu, director-general of Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and Senator Ndume, said yesterday that the death toll had risen from eight to 18. They added that pregnant women and children were among those killed.
The number of injured victims, some with ruptured stomachs, was put at 19. Twenty-three lucky survivors, said Saidu were as of yesterday waiting for military escort in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic.
His said: “In the first blast, a female suicide bomber detonated it at a marriage ceremony, injuring over 30 and causing instant deaths
“In the second blast, it was almost like the first. It occurred near the General Hospital.
“The third blast happened at a funeral service (Janaiza). Another female suicide bomber detonated it, causing more casualties.
“In the fourth blast, a female teenager detonated a bomb at the hospital, injuring more people.
“In all, there were 18 deaths (children, adult males, females, and pregnant women), 19 were seriously injured and transported to Maiduguri in four ambulances, and 23 are waiting for military escort in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic.
“Regarding the injuries, there were abdominal raptures, skull fractures, limb fractures, among others.
“There were coordinated rescue missions. We mobilised emergency drugs to complement shortages in Gwoza. We arranged for a chopper transport.
“The degree of injuries range from abdominal raptures, skull and limb fractures.’’
It was gathered that the military had imposed a curfew on the local government area.
Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, vowed that his administration would not allow insurgents to make nation ‘’slither into an era of fear, tears, sorrow, and blood.’’ He commiserated with the families of those killed, the injured and the people and government of Borno State.
The statement reads: “President Bola Tinubu strongly condemns the bomb attacks, which resulted in the loss of precious lives and the maiming of other citizens in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
“President Tinubu describes the attacks as desperate acts of terror and a clear manifestation of the pressure mounted against terrorists and the success achieved in degrading their capacity to launch offensives.
“The President declares that the purveyors of wanton violence shall have a certain encounter with justice and that these cowardly attacks are only but an isolated episode as his government will not allow the nation to slither into an era of fear, tears, sorrow, and blood.
“The President states that his administration is taking necessary measures to secure citizens, emphasising that efforts will be redoubled to ensure that those who trouble the nation, dispatching precious lives, and disrupting law and order are completely removed.
“President Tinubu condoles with the victims of the attacks, the families of the deceased, as well as the government and people of Borno State.”
Like the President, the NSGF, through its Chairman Inuwa Yahaya, commiserated with the victims, government, and people of Borno State.
Describing the attacks as cowardly, Inuwa, who is also the governor of Gombe State, emphasised that terror has no place in a peaceful and progressive society.
The governor, in a statement by the Director-General, Press Affairs, Gombe State Government House, Alhaji Ismaila Misili, said: “These cowardly attacks by bloodthirsty terrorists will never break the spirit of the peace-loving people of Northern Nigeria and our great nation,
“We must ensure that our security apparatus is always a step ahead of these terrorists. Enhanced intelligence and proactive measures are vital in preventing such tragic incidents,”
The governor acknowledged the efforts of President Tinubu in combating terrorism and other violent crimes in the country.
He also commended the Borno State Government’s swift response to the attacks.
“The NSGF stands united in solidarity with you( Borno State) and remains committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure peace and stability prevail across the region and nation in general,” Yahaya added.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message, said the bombings were regrettable and depressing.
“The death of innocent citizens due to suicide bombing is worrisome and painful. We pray that God will comfort the victims’ families and the entire people of Gwoza and Borno State in this time of sorrow’’ he said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Gboyega Akosile.
The governor expressed his sympathies to the immediate families of the victims as well as the entire residents of Borno State who ‘’may have suffered personally and by association in the attacks.’’
He also extended his sympathies to his counterpart, Governor Babagana Zulum.
“I want to assure my brother-governor that the government and the good people of Lagos State stand with him in this very difficult time,” Sanwo-Olu added.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, expressed solidarity with the Federal Government, families, and communities of all those affected.
Fall, who said the agency had offered support to the victims, called on all parties to the conflict to stick to their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians from harm.
He said: “ I am horrified by this attack on civilian populations and condemn such acts in the strongest terms. I stand in solidarity with the Government of Nigeria, and the families and communities of all those affected.
“On behalf of the United Nations, I remind all parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians from harm.
“I have reached out to the Borno State Government to express my condolences and offer any support that the United Nations and the humanitarian community can provide to aid the victims of the attack.”
The US reiterated its commitment to collaborate with Nigeria to defeat terrorism and bring the perpetrators of the heinous acts to justice.
“The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrific attacks that took place in Gwoza, Borno State on June 29. These reprehensible acts of violence show a cruel and heartless disregard for human life.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wish a full recovery to the injured. These abhorrent attacks are a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by terrorism in the region”, the US said in a statement by its Mission in Nigeria.
Former Vice President Atiku charged the Federal Government not to allow the Northeast to slide back into a “theatre of terrorism and extreme violence.”
“It is unfortunate that much of the pushback that had been achieved against the Boko Haram terror sect is being canceled,” Atiku posted on his X handle.
Amnesty International, in a statement posted on its X handle, said the attacks demonstrated a contemptible disregard for human life.
“Boko Haram must end its campaign of vicious and unlawful killings of civilians. These deplorable attacks that took place at a time people were mourning demonstrate complete disregard for human life,” it stated.
