Senate President Bukola Saraki on Thursday condemned the renewed onslaught against innocent Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
He also expressed deep pain over the death of six school children in Lagos following a boat accident that involved 14 school children, who were being conveyed across Ojo to Irewe jetty.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki said that the military authorities would do everything necessary to prevent the unwarranted attacks by Boko Haram from escalating.
This is just as he commended efforts made so far by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that Nigerians are safe and secured in all parts of the country, especially in the North-East geo-political zone.
The senate president, however, decried the attack by insurgents on a day Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on behalf of the Federal Government, for on-the-spot-assessment of the situation of the internally displaced persons.
Saraki said, “It was really a sad day for me to learn that suicide bombers unleashed attack on the people on a day the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, visited Maiduguri to see things for himself and also visit beleaguered families and communities whose lives and means of livelihoods have been adversely affected by the barbaric acts of the insurgents.
“Boko Haram is not invincible and I have no doubt that the present administration, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, possesses the requisite political will and determination to decisively fight the insurgents and restore security to affected areas”.
He commended the military for their bravery so far but noted that Nigerians are eager to see a quick end to these needless carnage and bloodletting.
On the tragic loss of six pupils and another six yet to be accounted for after a boat that was travelling from Ojo to Irewe reportedly capsized in Lagos, the President of the Senate urged all relevant stakeholders, including water transportation authorities and the National Emergency Management Agency, to ensure that the six, yet to be recovered children were found and taken out of the waters.
Saraki said, “This incident, which is one too many is another wake up call for officials charged with the regulation of water transportation across the country to rev up their prevention strategies and emergency preparedness level so as to avoid future occurrence and prompt rescue of victims”.
While commiserating with the families of victims, Saraki prayed God to grant repose to the soul of Nigerians whose lives were cut short by both the Maiduguri suicide bombing and the boat accident in Lagos.
