Borno suicide bombings: Fight against terrorism must be uncompromising, says ACF

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed sadness over the news about coordinated suicide bomb attacks on Gwoza community of Borno State, calling for total and uncompromising fight against terrorism and banditry.

So far, over 30 persons have been reported dead from the attacks which occurred on Saturday.

ACF in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba on Monday, said the incident was very unfortunate.

The forum said although no persons or groups had claimed responsibility for the cowardly attacks, they pointed to the well-known terror strategies of Boko Haram insurgents.

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ACF observed that the attacks were specifically targeted, for maximum impact, at a wedding party, a funeral and a hospital.

The body condoled the families of those who lost their lives in the dastardly attacks. It also commiserated with all victims, the Gwoza community, Borno and federal 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,” the statement read partly.

ACF however commended the quick response of the federal and Borno State agencies to the tragedy, calling for doubling down on the efforts to exterminate the Boko Haram insurgency through strategic synergy between communities, state and federal authorities, religious leaders and international agencies.

“No efforts should be spared to ensure speedy return to normalcy for the people of Borno 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,” it added.