By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) on Tuesday declared that the early Monday morning bomb attack at the University of Maiduguri and the kidnap of students and staff of Nigerian Tulip International College of (formerly Turkish International School), Ogun State “is a caution to both Nigerians and security operatives”..
MSSN in a statement made available to newsmen by its Amir (President) in Lagos State, Dr. Saheed Ashafa while condemning the bombing and the kidnap, advised the Federal Government and the military that there should be no relaxation despite the fall of Sambisa forest.
The society in the statement stressed that it was unfortunate that students in the country are becoming the most affected victims of the horrible “experiences of terrorism and kidnapping”.
“The saddening current development is a caution to both Nigerians and security operatives. Though extremely painful, it is a bad signal that the fall of Sambisa forest, which is believed to be the headquarters of Boko Haram sect, does not automatically translate to the end of terrorism in Nigeria; so our security operatives need to do more,” it said.
According to MSSN, “the act of turning students and educationists to money making avenue is condemnable and capable of discouraging people’s interest in education, if not properly addressed. We appeal to security operatives to do all they could to ensure the safe rescue of the victims of the kidnap incident at Turkish International school”it said.
MSSN in the statement added that “it is disheartening and incomprehensible as it surprisingly happened at a point when many Nigerians are beginning to show confidence that terrorism is coming to an end in the country”.
“The bombing of the University of Maiduguri mosque came to us as a shock. It is disheartening and incomprehensible as it surprisingly happened at a point when many Nigerians are beginning to show confidence that terrorism is coming to an end in the country. Perpetrators of such act must be arrested and dealt with appropriately”.
While commending the security operatives in the country for the recorded success so far on the various challenges facing Nigeria,MSSN pointed out that the incapacitation of Boko Haram to operate from Sambisa Forest could lead to the rise of terrorists’ incursion in many of Nigerian communities if government fails to act fast.
To avoid the incursion and further criminal activities, the society suggested proper mobilisation of all security agencies for swift and robust internal security and surveillance.
“Our security operatives may also have to go and re-strategise against internal security threat that the success recorded by them in key places could cause. They should also begin to pay more attentions to boarder strips, and other states and areas that some of the fleeing terrorists could want to operate or hide.”
