UN envoy strongly condemns double
bombings in Jos


UN envoy for West Africa Said Djinnit has
condemned the double bombings in a market
in Jos, which killed 75 people and wounded
more.
In a statement issued in Dakar, a copy of which
was obtained by PANA in New York on
Thursday, Djinnit extended his solidarity and
sympathy to the victims and their bereaved
families as well as to the Government and the
people of Nigeria.
He said the perpetrators of these “heinous and
cowardly attacks’’ against innocent civilians
should be swiftly brought to justice.
“The large-scale and devastating losses of
lives caused by repeated indiscriminate killings
cannot continue,’’ he said.
Djinnit, the UN Secretary-General’s Special
Representative and head of the UN Office for
West Africa, reiterated the world body’s
commitment to stopping the problem of
insurgency in Nigeria.
He said the efforts would be to tackle the threat
of terrorism within the framework of the UN
Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
The envoy visited Nigeria on May 12 to May 15
in his capacity as the High-Level
Representative of the UN Secretary-General to
discuss with government officials the
assistance that the UN could provide in support
of ongoing efforts.
Efforts to seek the safe release of the more than
200 girls abducted from their school in Chibok,
northern Borno State, in mid-April.
In the wake of that visit, the UN had prepared
an integrated support package that included
immediate support to the affected families, the
population and the girls after their release.
The support would in particular be in the area of
psycho-social counselling and helping the girls
to reintegrate with their families and
communities.
Though there has been no claim of
responsibility for the twin blasts in Jos, they
seem to be bearing the hallmarks of the terror
group, Boko Haram, which abducted the school
girls over a month ago.
The group, whose name stands for “Western
education is a sin’’, has been carrying out
targeted attacks in recent years against
schools, police, religious leaders and
politicians.
They also targeted public and international
institutions, indiscriminately killing civilians,
including dozens of children. (PANA/NAN)

Culled from Vanguard