FORMER president, General Ibrahim
Babangida (IBB), has called for self-
defence and Jihad against Boko Haram
sect members.
The former president said there was
nothing wrong if people who were attacked
prepared for self-defence, saying the act
could be regarded as Jihad.
IBB condemned the killings in Kano and
other parts of the country by the
insurgents and commiserated with the
government and people of Kano over the
recent killings during Juma’at.
In an interview with British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC) Hausa, on Monday night,
IBB said itw as a good thing that the Emir
of Kano, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi, had called
for prayers and fasting for peace to
reign.
The former president expressed confidence
in the ability of the military to contain the
crisis, saying as a soldier, he believed that
the crisis would not be insurmountable.
Magnitude of Boko Haram’s recent attack
scary —Mark •Adjourns plenary for 2 weeks
By Taiwo Adisa – Abuja
SENATE President, David Mark, on
Tuesday, raised the alarm over the
incursions of the Boko Haram insurgents in
parts of the North-East, especially the
attack on Yobe State Government House.
Mark made some comments while reacting
to a motion moved by the chairman of the
Committee on Public Accounts, Senator
Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North), who came
under Order 43 of the Senate Standing
Orders (2011, as amended) on activities of
insurgents in Yobe State.
The Senate President noted that the sect
had engaged in incessant attacks since it
declared war on Nigeria, adding that
Monday’s attempt to invade Yobe’s
Government House was a matter of
concern.
“Insurgents have been attacking left,
right, front and back in North-East, but
that of Monday was frightening, because
they were able to get to the Government
House, which gave it a new dimension...”
According to Mark, the magnitude of
recent attacks by the insurgents has
raised concern, while asking the Senate to
observe a one minute silence in respect of
the dead.
“I allowed it because like I said, the
dimension that it took yesterday (Monday)
was really frightening. I was in touch with
the governor for most of the time and we
were all very worried.
“Also, because of the magnitude of what
had happened in the last few days - bomb
blasts in Kano, the attack in Borno and the
incident that took place in Damaturu, it is
only proper that we observe one minute
silence in honour of those who lost their
lives,” Mark stated.
Senator Lawan had told the Senate that
activities of the insurgents left scores
dead in the state.
“I will like to formally inform this Senate
that Damaturu was attacked by the
insurgents from about 5.00 a.m on Monday
and the military or the armed forces
battled the insurgents and controlled the
situation.
“So many lives were lost but at this
moment, we cannot determine the exact
number of the dead and so many were also
wounded and, of course, psychologically,
hundreds of thousands of Yobe people and
even Nigerians are traumatised by that
incident.
“I spoke with you this morning on the need
for me, on behalf of my colleagues from
Yobe State, to make a personal explanation
on what happened in Damaturu.
“Mr President, I want to say this; that a
war is not won by the name of the
operation; a war is won by the operators of
the operation that operates in the theatre
of war.
“Our soldiers were determined to fight the
insurgents. They fought very gallantly and
exhibited valour and they did that because
they have motivation, not because there
was any state of emergency existing,” he
said.
At that point, Mark warned Lawan not to
introduce any form of controversy over
the state of emergency and activities of
the military in the North-East.
The Senate has, however, adjourned
plenary for two weeks, to allow the
senators to participate in the primaries of
the main political parties taking place this
weekend.
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