Bomb Blast: Boko Haram will pay for Abuja victims – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that the perpetrators of the bomb blast at Nyanya Bus Park in Abuja which claimed many lives will not go unpunished but pay for their deeds. Speaking at the 4th Presidential National Prayer Breakfast session in Abuja, he said that his administration is doing everything within its powers to support the living and injured victims of the blast.

According to him, the security agencies are not only working to unravel the scourge of the evil attacks, but also to forestall further senseless attacks in the country. He said: “Today our prayers are with the victims of Boko Haram and their families and loved ones. The last tragedy of these heinous ideology occurred while we were preparing to mark the resurrection of our Lord at Easter bringing sorrow to many families who …the reflection of lent.”
“The government is offering all assistance to support the affected families as the security agencies work tirelessly to unravel the scourge of this evil and to forestall further senseless desecration of our homeland.”

“And of course, no matter what the government does, we cannot recover the dead but one thing we promise is that all those who took part in that act will surely pay for it. We must all come together and have faith to combat the ignorance, intolerance …. that may lead to this unwarranted hatred and continued violence because we are all children
of God.”

Continuing, he said: “As we celebrate Easter, it is no wonder that we are overwhelmed by the mercy and awesome God. His love for us is so deep and inspiring. We need to rely on Him to pursue peace and overcome the enemies of the nation.”

“My message to you this morning is a sincere appreciation of your prayers. Your love for our country gives me hope and encouragement to do more for the good of our country. I urge you not to relent in your prayers and dedication because overcoming the present challenges we face may look impossible with men, but with God all things are possible. This is clearly seen in the scriptures and this is my article of faith. And of course, this is one of the things that make me smile whenever you see me.”

“By the grace of the almighty, Nigeria will overcome the evil of terrorism and with these strides of development which the country is undergoing in many sectors, we will not be slowed down. We must all increase our vigilance and alertness as well as cooperation and understanding to our men in uniform who are at the forefront on our behalf. May God bless and protect them. Nigeria is our home and cannot be abandoned to anyone else.” He added

Apart from prayer for the first family and the nation at the occasion, special prayers were also said for God to help in rescuing all the 232 secondary school girls abducted by Boko Haram in Gibuk, Borno State.

The President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi specially prayed for the children’s release stressing that Boko Haram and their collaborators are not needed anywhere in the African continent. “No one has the right to destroy what God has created Good will always overcome hatred and wickedness.” He said.

The Nation