- Safiu Kehinde
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the bomb attack on worshippers at Gambarou Jumu’at Mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, as it demanded actionable security strategies against insurgents across Nigeria.
NPO Reported that a suspected suicide bomber had on Wednesday evening detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while worshippers were observing the Maghrib congregational prayer.
The incident which occurred during the first raka’at of the prayer left over 35 worshippers injured with five confirmed dead.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP lamented over the attack while stressing that rising insecurity has become the unfortunate contemporary reality that Nigerians face.
The party accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of failing to protect lives and properties which it described as irreducible minimum the government should offer the people.
PDP however called on both the Federal and the State governments to take immediate and practical steps to protect citizens particularly during the festive season as it warned of the creation of atmosphere of fear across several religious societies if attacks on places of worship is left unchecked.
The statement read; “The news of an explosion in a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri is another sad reminder of the rising insecurity that has become the unfortunate contemporary reality that Nigerians face.
“This is totally unacceptable; the irreducible minimum the government should offer its people is the protection of lives and property.
“This administration has failed woefully in this respect and should rise to the occasion rather than resort to rhetoric and playing politics with security.
“We commiserate with the families of those who have lost their loved ones in this senseless attack. No one should lose their life while worshipping God.
“If these attacks on places of worship continue unchecked, they will not only violate the constitutional right of Nigerians to freely worship but will also create an atmosphere of fear that threatens the very fabric of our religious society.
“We call on the Federal and State Governments to take immediate and practical steps to protect our citizens throughout this yuletide season and beyond.
“Nigerians deserve more than empty promises and political rhetoric. We need concrete, actionable security strategies deployed on the ground.
“This escalating insecurity has become unbearable and must be confronted with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.”