TERRORISM: President Jonathan Speaks Tough; We Won't Be Cowed

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that his administration will not be cowed by the atrocities of enemies of human progress and civilisation.

President Jonathan

He was reacting to Tuesday’s bomb blasts in Jos, the Plateau State capital, northcentral Nigeria, which claimed over 100 lives

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, the president described the perpetrators of the blasts as cruel and evil.

Jonathan directed all relevant agencies to mobilise support and relief efforts in aid of the victims of the blasts.

He extended his heartfelt sympathies to the affected families and persons, and also assured Nigerians that his government remained fully committed to winning the war against terror.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two bomb explosions rocked Jos terminus market on Tuesday.

The Commander of the Special Task Force in the state, Maj.-Gen. Dave Enetie, confirmed the incident but did not give casualty figure.

Reports had it that at least 118 people were killed while scores were hospitalised following the injuries they sustained from the blasts.

Also, attacks by Boko Haram gunmen killed 30 people near Chibok, the northeast Nigerian town where the Islamists kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls last month, witnesses said on Wednesday.

The first attack on Monday afternoon killed 10 in the village of Shawa, some seven kilometres (4.3 miles) from Chibok, a number of residents told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Gunmen then stormed the nearby village of Alagarno late Tuesday and stole food, razed homes and fired on fleeing civilians.

“It was a sudden attack,” said resident Haruna Bitrus, in an account supported by other locals.

“They began shooting and set fire to our homes. We had to flee to the bush. They killed 20 of our people,” he added.

Many of those who fled the Alagarno attack ran to Chibok, where Boko Haram seized 276 schoolgirls on April 14.

The military said it had deployed heavily to the area to find the 223 girls who remain in captivity.

Major world powers including the United States are offering varying levels of assistance with the rescue mission.

Bitrus said that despite claims of a military build-up in the area, troops had not responded to the latest attack.

“While the gunmen were fleeing, three of their vehicles broke down and they have stayed behind to fix them. They were there up to this morning” with no response from the military, he said.