Dare Babalola
Following the bombing that rocked Maiduguri on Monday evening, the Northern States Governors’ Forum has called for people of the region to unite against terrorism.
In a statement signed on Tuesday, the association’s chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, strongly condemned the bombing, describing the attacks as heinous, barbaric and a direct assault on innocent lives.
The bombing, which reportedly occurred almost simultaneously at the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the Monday Market Roundabout and the Post Office area, left 23 dead and 108 injured.
The blasts, suspected to have been caused by improvised explosive devices planted by fighters of Boko Haram, were reported around 7 p.m., shortly after Muslims broke their fast.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed that 23 people were killed and 108 others injured in multiple suspected suicide bombings that rocked Maiduguri late Monday.
In the statement Governor Yahaya expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and extended his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Borno State, particularly to families who lost their loved ones.
“This senseless act of violence is not only reprehensible but a cruel attempt to instil fear and disrupt the fragile peace being restored in the North-East. It is an attack on our collective humanity and must be condemned in the strongest terms,” the Governor stated.
The governor extended his sympathies to victims receiving treatment in hospitals, praying for their speedy recovery.
He also commended first responders and security agencies for their prompt intervention in managing the blasts’ aftermath.
The forum chairman restated the commitment of the Northern Governors to continue working closely with the Federal Government and security agencies to confront and defeat all forms of terrorism and criminality threatening the peace and stability of the region.
He urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, while cooperating fully with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid ongoing investigations.
“Now, more than ever, we must stand united against forces of terror. Our resolve to secure our region remains unshaken, and together, we shall overcome these cowardly acts,” he added.
Governor Yahaya prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident and called for intensified efforts to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice.
