Buhari urges vigilance in public places

Former Head of State and APC presidential aspirant, retired General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday visited victims of Friday’s Kano Central Mosque blast, urging Nigerians to be vigilant in public places to curtail activities of insurgents.
Speaking at the Murtala Mohammad Hospital, Kano where some victims are receiving treatment, Buhari described the attack as distressing and stressed the need for members of the public to complement efforts of security agencies in the fight.
“It is extremely distressing but I think there is nothing we can do about it other than to be extra vigilant wherever we are now, especially in public places like mosques, churches, schools, motor parks and so on.  I hope the law enforcement agencies would be fully complemented by the civil society,” he said.
After visiting the victims, General Buhari went to the Kano government House where he opposed the move by the federal government to secure a $1 billion loan to fight insurgency.
“Before the commencement of the menace of Boko Haram, I said it there is no religion that allows the killing of fellow human beings. This thing they are doing is not religion, it is pure terrorism. Religion does not permit the killing of anybody, whether at mosque, church, school or anywhere. When we fought the civil war for about three years, Gowon was the Head of State throughout the war and we didn’t take a loan of one Kobo to execute the war. Now they are looking for $1 billion for the war. What have they done with the billions they are budgeting annually for security? he said.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, yesterday declared a three-day special fast in the state to seek divine intervention on the insurgency.
The emir in an address implored the people to fast from Wednesday to Friday. During the period, he said people should intensify prayers and seek God’s guidance and protection. At the hospital, he donated drugs worth N20m for the treatment of victims.
Many worshipers who went to the mosque to perform the Juma’at prayers are still missing. At the mortuary yesterday many people were seen searching through corpses.