Teddy Oscar, Abuja
The bomb blast that claimed scores of lives and left dozens of people with various degrees of injuries at the EMAB Shopping Mall at Wuse II in Abuja on Wednesday received a strong condemnation from the Senate on Thursday, who urged the Federal Government to increase surveillance in all parts of the federation.
This is even as the Senate President, David Mark, and Senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, also lent their voices to condemned the dastardly act.
Presiding over the plenary, deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who observed that security agencies had been doing good works to tackle the security challenges in the country, however, advised that efforts to get rid of the incessant attacks on Nigerians should redoubled.
While commiserating with the families of those that lost their loved ones in the blast, the Senate promised to work with the security agencies and the government to ensure that whatever that is needed to be done would be done to end the worrisome insurgency in Nigeria.
“We condemn in very strong terms the sustained attacks on Nigeria by the insurgents in various parts of the country. Of course, it is completely unacceptable. So, I will like to urge the government to increase their surveillance all over the place.
“And for the security agencies, we want to thank them for the good works they have been doing, but we believe that more could be done to secure this country. As a parliament, we are ready to work with the security agencies and the government to ensure that whatever needs to be done to end this insurgents will be done.
“So, on behalf of the senate once more I condole with the families of those who lost their dear ones yesterday and similar bombing last few weeks,” he said.
Ekweremadu enjoined Nigerians to stand firm and united in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
“The sole motives of the terrorists were to break the spirit of Nigerians and instill fear through acts of mass murder and destruction of property. This is another sadistic act to annihilate Nigerians, spurn our religious and cultural values as well as all that we hold sacred as a people.
“It is a common saying amongst our people that nobody throws stone into the market square because even his or her kinfolks could be the victims; that these bands of terrorists even bomb market places warns us again that something is fundamentally wrong with their values and that we must all stand together to fight our common enemies,” he noted.
Ekweremadu condoled with the Daily Telegraph Newspaper family over the death of its managing editor (North), Mallam Suleiman Bisalla, who was killed in the unfortunate blast.
He described Bisalla as a “seasoned professional, who paid his dues towards national development.”
In a condolence letter to the board and management of the company, who noted that Bisalla covered the Senate diligently, described his death as a huge loss not only to the Nigerian media, but also the entire nation.
He observed that the void created by the journalist’s untimely death would be difficult to fill.
He sent heartfelt condolences to all those, who lost dear ones in the unfortunate incident. He also Prayed for the peaceful repose of the dead and quick recovery of the injured.
The duo Mark and Ndoma-Egba, in two separate statements, pleaded with perpetrators to sheathe their swords in the interest of peace and continual corporate existence of Nigeria.
Mark lamented the continued and unabated destruction of property, in spite of peaceful entreaties.
“Honestly, this is not our way of life. We are a people who value life. We cherish one another. This new trend of mass murder is alien to us. We must stand up against this and make Nigeria safe and better again.
“There are more than enough channels for any body or group of persons to seek redress including the law courts. Certainly, resort to killing, violence or destruction of property is not one of them,” he said.
He urged the security operatives not to be deterred by the development, but be strengthened to face the challenges of protecting lives and property in the land.
Mark also enjoined Nigerians to be security conscious at all times.
“The business of security is no longer the sole mandate of uniform men and women alone but all citizens,” he added.
On his part, Ndoma-Egba, who noted that the bombings have assumed frightening dimension, called on all Nigerians to be on the alert to foil any future attack.
He urged the nation’s security agencies not to relent in their collective efforts in securing lives and property, despite the unrelenting spate of attacks on innocent citizens by people he termed “enemies of Nigeria.”
