Missing girls: Mark opts for total war against Boko Haram

• Scores arrested in Abuja raids

Senate President David Mark has warned Boko Haram not to test the will of the military in keeping the members in check.

He prayed God to touch the hearts of the abductors of the 239 students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, to free them unconditionally, even as he insisted that negotiation was no longer an option, but full military action against the perpetrators.

“They have touched the hearts and souls of Nigerians by abducting and kidnapping our children. Children are our future. They have in effect declared war on Nigeria and Nigerians. We are not going to sit down and fold our arms.

“The Federal Government must intensify military action against the perpetrators and bring the issue of Boko Haram to a logical conclusion,”Senator Mark stressed.

He spoke in Asaba, Delta State at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church during the funeral service for Lady Obi-Bridget Ngbelenwa Okpuno, mother of High Chief Uche Okpuno.

“The current situation in the country where some children have taken arms against their own country is totally unacceptable. Parents must share in the blame.

“I have been an advocate for dialogue with the Boko Haram elements in this country. But things have gone absolutely beyond bound and no government will negotiate with Boko Haram as long as they keep our girls and our boys.

“They must free those they have abducted unconditionally . Nobody is going to negotiate with them on that basis. They must never test the will of the government. They must never test the will of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Above all, they must never test the will of the Nigerian people because we must stand united against evil.

“They must have taken government’s decision to negotiate with them for weakness. They must not. The Nigerian Armed Forces have performed creditably well across the globe.  They will do even better at home to preserve our unity and sovereignty.”

He prayed that the Almighty God touches the hearts of all those involved either as sponsors, individuals or in the name of Boko Haram, so that they would change their minds.

“But while we pray, we will take the battle to their own ground. They should return their victims unconditionally, before we can call for dialogue.”

In his remarks, Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, urged the citizens to “abhor acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.”

Earlier, Priest of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Leonard Biachi, harped on good neighbourliness and peaceful co-existence as a panacea to the lingering crisis in the country.

Rev. Biachi noted that late Madam Okpuno lived a life of service to the community, a virtue he advised the children to emulate.

Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) yesterday backed Mark’s call for full military action to rescue the 239 abducted female students.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the senator noted that “dialoguee cannot work with a set of people who are bent on wreaking havoc and destruction on the country.

“I fully support Senate President, when he rightly observed that Nigeria is now in a state of war with the nefarious activities of these insurgents and that only a full military action can rescue these girls.

Meanwhile, following the second bomb blast near Nyanya motorpark on May 1, the security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) have commenced raids on all the notorious black spots in Abuja, to rid the city of terrorists and other criminal groups who may have relocated to the city. This is even as security agencies have increased patrols in the federal capital.

The raids which started over the weekend, according to security sources, have yielded results leading to the arrest of several hoodlums, criminals and perceived terrorists, including foreign nationals.

Daily Sun gathered that the raids which will be a continuous exercise, were necessary following security reports that Boko Haram has infiltrated Abuja, with a threat to attack some targets.

The terrorists are said to have targeted some public buildings, headquarters of military and security agencies, offices among other densely-populated areas during the ongoing national conference.

Intelligence reports revealed that Boko-Haram has found the outskirts of Abuja, and slums suitable for their places of abode where they plan and carry out attacks.

The notorious/hotspots in the FCT, include Gwagwalada, Suleja, and Deidei. Others are Dusts Alhaji, Mpape, Apo Mechanic village, Zuba, Mararaba, Nyanya, motorparks and uncompleted buildings.

Apart from raiding the slums in the city, security agencies have also commenced the demolition of shanties and illegal structures constructed in front of shopping centres, drinking/eating joints as well as residential quarters.

Recall that Daily Sun had exclusively reported that Boko Haram was planning to attack Abuja during the ongoing national conference, thus leading to the relocation of the venue to the National Judicial Institute, instead of the International Conference Centre.

The situation at the time prompted the Army, police and other security agencies to place personnel on the alert to avoid the influx of terrorists into the city.

Soldiers and other security personnel have been deployed in all the entry and exit points into the federal capital as well as increase patrol and intelligence gathering on notable notorious spots in and around the FCT.

In the renewed security operations to rid the city of terrorists and other criminal groups, managers and owners of hotels, guest houses, restaurants and drinking joints have been advised to be mindful of their guests.