The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, expressed concern over mass killings and bombing of churches and mosques by Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Adamu Hassan, on Sunday, Dogara said the motive of the terrorist is to instill fear in the minds of Nigerians by engaging in mass killings of hapless citizens.
He condemned Sunday`s bomb attack on worshippers in a church in Potiskum, Yobe State, describing it as “barbaric, inhuman and wicked.”
The Speaker said he is deeply worried over the “new dimension” taken by the terrorists as exemplified by the increasing spate of mass murder by the Boko Haram insurgents in recent days.
He said as men of faith, Nigerians should not lose hope in the capacity of the Nigerian State and its security apparatus to subdue the insurgents and bring the violence to an end.
Dogara further maintained that by embarking on mass killings and annihilation of communities, the intention of the terrorists is to instill fear and create doubts in the minds of the citizens to the point that they will no longer have faith and trust in the state.
However, the Speaker said that, Nigeria and Nigerians will never succumb to this new dimension of terrorism and urged the people not to despair as according to him, “we shall over come”.
“I want to use to medium to call on all men and women of faith, Christians and Muslims alike to intensify prayers to God as Nigeria is in dire need of divine intervention from the almighty God to over come.
” With God on our side, there is no challenge that is insurmountable. I have strong conviction in my heart that this too, shall pass away”, he said
He praised the efforts of the officers and men of the military and other security agencies at the battle front and urged them “not to cave in to terrorism, as their sacrifice (s) shall not go unrewarded by the Nigerian state.”
The National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, according to the Speaker, will continue to give all the necessary support and cooperation to President Muhammadu Buhari to help equip the military with advance military hard ware needed to combat terrorism and other internal aggression.
He further noted that while the war is being fought, “it is also time to begin to implement programmes and policies that will rebuild, rehabilitate and reconstruct the North East”.
The Speaker commended Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, for visiting Borno and Adamawa States recently where he reiterated the Federal government`s desire to rebuild the region.
He disclosed that a motion calling on the Federal Government to convene an international donor conference for the rebuilding of the region has been drafted and will be considered by the House after the recess.
