Outrage at Yobe students killings

Political leaders, among them President
Goodluck Jonathan, condemned the weekend
killing of more than 40 students at the College
of Agriculture in Gujba, Yobe State by
suspected members of Boko Haram Sect. Speaking in a Presidential media chat,
Jonathan described the attack as a “transient
challenge.” He assured Nigerians that the government
would continue to do what was required to
protect them. Yobe Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, who visited
the injured students at the Sani Abatcha
Specialist Hospital in Damaturu, described the
attack as devastating, heinous and barbaric. He commiserated with families of the victims
and assured them the state government
would settle the bill for medical treatment for
the injured. Gaidam called on the military and other law
enforcement operatives in the state to
intensify surveillance and patrols to deal more
effectively with the prevailing security
challenges. He noted that although there was increase in
troop movement and the deployment of more
military hardware in the northeast, people
were yet to see the kind of action on the
ground that effectively dealt with terrorists. He pledged to continue to supporting security
agencies to restore peace and security. Gaidam called for regular patrols along the
Maiduguri-Damaturu-Potiskum highway
where many attacks had taken place. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
described the killing as senseless and tragic. “As a father, I am deeply saddened by these
senseless murders. These were young
Nigerians studying agriculture with a goal of
helping to feed our nation,” he said. The Northern States Governors Forum,
through its chairman, Governor Babangida
Aliyu of Niger State, described the killing as
horrendous, callous and devoid of any shred
of humanity. The group called on security agencies to do
more to protect lives and properties of citizens
and ensure that those behind the violence in
the region were brought to justice.