The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday, condemned the bomb explosions in the satellite towns of the Federal Capital Territory, Kuje and Nyanya.
He called on security agencies to step up intelligence gathering activities.
Saraki, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja, also urged Nigerians not to panic, as the renewed attacks are signs that the days of Boko Haram are numbered.
He said, “To maintain peace, we need to step up the intelligence gathering machinery and get ordinary people to give useful information on suspicious movements by individuals, groups or even unexplainable location of objects and structures.
“This war against insurgency is one that all of us must cooperate with and support the military.”
The Senate President also called on Nigerians not to relent in their prayers and making critical intelligence available to security forces to aid their final onslaught against insurgency in the North-East and other affected parts of the country.
Saraki said, “We are definitely seeing the last days of these misguided elements. The resort to soft targets as their new mode of attack is a clear indication that there is tremendous heat on the insurgents from our gallant security forces, who have vowed to vanquish these outlaws within the shortest possible time.”
Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday, called for intelligence gathering and sharing among security agencies to win the war against terrorism.
Dogara, who was reacting to Friday night’s twin bomb attacks in Nyanya and Kuje, stated the use of “physical force” alone would make winning the war impossible.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, the Speaker Condemned the attacks as “callous and evil.”
Dogara said, “While it is not in doubt that our security agencies are winning the war on terror, these attacks show that there is much work to do about intelligence gathering and sharing.
“Terrorism cannot be totally defeated with physical might as terrorists resort to different means to carry out horrible and monstrous acts as these.
“There should be more of inter-agency intelligence gathering and sharing which is the surest way to prevent any such attack.
“Nigerians should also be vigilant and security concious and help the security agencies with information.”
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, also condemned Friday's twin bomb blasts in Kuje and Nyanya suburbs of Abuja.
In the statement signed by the Atiku Media Office, the former Vice President stated fear had always been used by Boko Haram terrorists as a psychological tool for intimidating and forcing citizens into surrender and inaction.
Abubakar stated it was clear that by targeting suburban Abuja, the terrorists wanted to persuade Nigerians to believe they were invincible and paralyse the country with fear.
He, however, urged Nigerians not to be deceived by such desperate tactics by the sect’s militants that primarily target non-combatants, innocent and defenceless civilians.
The statement partly read “The obvious intention of the Boko Haram militants was to unleash their frustrations on innocent civilians to whom they have easier access.
“By targeting civilians, the terrorists’ main propaganda objective was to strike paralysing fear into the hearts of Nigerians in order to turn public opinion against the government’s genuine and robust efforts to neutralise and defang them.
“Boko Haram bandits were offering a last ditch resistance in desperate move to deceive Nigerians that they were invincible.”
On its part, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), yesterday, condemned the attacks, while calling on Nigerians to protect their homes.
A statement by the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, described the perpetrators as those who do not mean well for the country.
He said, “I am saddened by the resurgence of bomb attacks in the FCT that has resulted in the death of many and leaving many others wounded.
“I strongly condemn the recent barbaric and acts of wickedness by the insurgents and their collaborators.
“No group or individual that means well for this country must be seen to support the execution of such acts. Nigerians must wake up from their slumber and begin to guard their respective homes, streets and communities. We must all join in the fight against insurgency.”
Speaking in a similar vein, Senator Sani, who represents Kaduna-Central at the Senate, condemned the terrorist attacks.
He described the act as dastardly, despicable and utterly wicked.
He said, “Their violence must in no way dictate or shape our ways of life. The bombings must not weaken our resolve to resist and end terror; it should rather strengthen our faith in the ultimate triumph of good.
“Terrorism is a global menace and a challenge to our generation. We must collectively demolish the wall of fear and combat such a cancerous evil threatening to annihilate us all.”