The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the Saturday coordinated bomb attack on Gwoza community in Borno state, while calling for renewed efforts by the Nigerian military to decapitate religious extremists, banditry and insurgency.
A statement signed by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur A. Muhammad-Baba on Monday expressed sadness at the bomb attacks which killed 19 persons and left score of others injured.
“The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is greatly saddened to receive news about coordinated suicide bomb attacks on Gwoza community of Borno state, as experienced on Saturday, 29th June, 2024. The sordid events led to the death of at least 19 persons, including women and children (perhaps still counting), with scores of people wounded.
“Although no persons or groups have claimed responsibility for the cowardly attacks, they had all the hallmarks of the well-known terror strategies of Boko Haram religious extremist insurgents. ACF observes that the attacks were specifically targeted, for maximum impact, at a wedding party, a funeral and a hospital, all soft and defenceless targets, as undertaken by brainwashed female agents.
“ACF strongly condemns the dastardly and evil attacks and extends condolences to the families, friends and loved ones on the loss of lives. ACF also commiserates with all victims, the whole Gwoza community, and indeed Federal and Borno state governments over the tragedy. That such attacks could be carried out so brazenly, is clear indication, and a crude reminder, that although degraded by battles with security agents, Boko Haram insurgents still retain a modicum of capability and capacity to wreck misery on hapless communities on account of a misguided religious ideology.
“It is indeed very worrisome and disheartening that such attacks would occur when the community has begun to look forward to relatively terror-free lives, away from the criminality-infested existence of the last few years. ACF commends the quick response of relevant Federal and Borno state agencies to the tragedy. More critically, ACF calls for doubling down on the efforts to exterminate the Boko Haram insurgency through need strategic synergy between communities, state and federal authorities, religious leaders, international bilateral and multilateral agencies.
“No efforts should be spared to ensure speedy return to normalcy for the people of Borno state and indeed all communities across the nation under siege by extremists, insurgents, terrorists and bandits. The fight against the criminal elements must be total and uncompromising and implemented first on firefight and later at the ideological levels.
“Government needs to intensify the current policy on engaging with bandits, extremists and insurgents, seeking to win them back into normal society. However, the strategy must be anchored on the basis of overwhelming and demonstrable force. The terror merchants must be stopped from holding grounds, absolutely anywhere in Nigeria, for much longer,” ACF said
