SECURITY ALERT WITH JIDE

UK, ACN, Mimiko say perpetrators must be punished.

THERE was more outrage Sunday over the New Year Eve explosions in Abuja.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Jeremy Browne, Action Congress of Nigeria , Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, said the perpetrators must be found and punished.

Browne, in a statement by the Press Secretary, British High Commission, Abuja Hooman Nouruzi, said: "Following the earlier incidents in Jos and Maiduguri over the Christmas period, I am shocked and saddened to learn of the bomb attack in Abuja on New Year’s Eve.

"I condemn this incident and the loss of innocent lives and send the UK’s condolences to the victims and their families. Every effort should be made to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Fayemi urged the Federal Government to prevent the continuous bombing of the nation by unknown terrorists.

Speaking at a special thanksgiving service at the St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral in Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi urged politicians to desist from heating up the polity.

Describing the perpetrators of the blasts as enemies of the nation, the governor okayed the President’s decision to seek international help.

He said: "All Nigerians must show concern about this terrible action. One thing should not be ruled out; some desperate politicians that are bent on derailing the 2011 general election may be doing this to heat up the polity and eventual rigging of the forthcoming election

ACN condemned what it described as the inability of the Federal Government to identify and bring perpetrators of previous killings to justice.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said: "A cloud of impunity is hanging over Nigeria, as explosions after explosions occur, leading to needless loss of lives, limbs and property.

"The PDP-led Federal Government seems utterly clueless on how to arrest the situation, forcing many to conclude that Nigeria is fast becoming a failed state.

The party added: "Never in the history of Nigeria have the people been subjected to the kind of violence that is reigning supreme under the PDP.

It is, indeed, a double tragedy that a government that cannot even provide for the people, is also unable to ensure their security. Having failed woefully, it is time for the PDP-government at all levels to be kicked out through the forthcoming general elections.

"Only last week, the PDP ward congress in Oyo State was turned into a theatre of war, where people were killed and maimed, as guns, cutlasses, axes and other weapons were wielded freely.

It is doubtful whether a party that cannot even organise a violence-free congress can preside over a free, fair and violence free national elections.

Governor Mimiko described the New Year explosions as threats to national security.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kolawole Olabisi, the governor said: ""It is a sad commentary on our nation that out of the blues, we have become a country where some unscrupulous people now throw bombs at will to settle scores and create panic.

This sad and unacceptable development is anti all that we are known for and those behind these nefarious acts must be brought to book and punished as they are enemies of the country.

I want to join Mr. President in his call on the security agencies to fish out those behind this reprehensible and shameful act.