“I condemn, unreservedly and with every strength in me, the recent terrorist attacks in Kano and Jos, the two historic cities that are known for their rich cultural and religious heritage.
“Once again, those who seek to influence our way of life, modify our faith and our most sacred core values, have struck, leaving in their wake lives brutally cut short, limbs badly broken and dreams forced to fade away.
“But these people, whose actions are not sanctioned by any religion and who subscribe to no known decent values, will not succeed. Our people are resilient and strong, and our nation is capable, based on our rich human and material resources, of successfully tackling these nihilists.
“We will together see the end of them and their reign of terror.
They have failed because Nigeria will remain strong and united in the face of what has now become an almost daily infliction of terror on a defenceless people. Women, children and the aged are not spared by these barbaric purveyors of horror, intimidation and panic. No religion condoles the killings of such vulnerable and innocent people, hence we are sure these terrorists profess to none of the world’s great religions, much as they seek to mask their actions with the cloak of religion.
Because their ideals are primordial and whatever cause they claim to be pushing is not just, they will not succeed. In spite of their terror, our respective faith and how we practice them will flourish and expand. Our reputation as a people of deep faith and peaceful religious coexistence will shine through, it will not diminish, it will not be forfeited.
I commiserate with the victims and their family members. While praying that Allah will grant repose to the souls of the departed and comfort those who lost loved ones, I urge all of us to demonstrate our time-tested compassion by providing support and succour to those affected one way or other other in their hour of need.
