UN office bombing , a negative signpost for Nigeria, says Fayemi

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has flayed Friday’s bombing of the United Nations (UN) House in Abuja, which left no fewer than 20 dead and scores injured.

The  Governor  described the development as  a negative signpost for Nigeria, which should necessitate a more serious approach. He enjoined the leadership of the country not to view the dastardly act  and  the growing spate of violence  in the country  as purely a local issue.
Dr Fayemi who had earlier commiserated  with the leadership  and staff members of  the UN in the country, through a message to the UN Resident Coordinator, Dr Daoda Traore and the UNDP Director, Ms Ade Mamonyane- Lekoetje,  said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode, on Saturday that Nigeria needs  a more strategic rather than an ad hoc reaction to the development.
He said the country needs to prioritize intelligence gathering, processing and utilization  in  security operations, adding that external forces could not be ruled out of the development in spite of claims by a local group, Boko Haram.

According to Fayemi, “Nigeria needs a strategic, rather than an ad hoc reaction to this.  We ‘d be chasing shadows if this is seen purely from a local angle.  Boko Haram is just a label for something more insidious.
Stressing the possibility of external influence in the matter, Fayemi said government should show more concern for the over 1,500 unpoliced border entries  into the country, where nefarious activities  go unchecked with active connivance of  locals.
Fayemi said: “First , we need to prioritize intelligence gathering, processing and utilization in our security operations. Two, rather than see this as an avenue to make money, security agencies must intensify joint operations rather than solo efforts. Three, political leadership must not give the impression that impunity is the rule, rather than the exemption on this matter.
“There are too many free spaces in Nigeria with over 1,500 unpoliced border entries that serve as veritable sources of nefarious external operatives with internal collaborators.

“It is indeed a wake up call requiring all hands on deck. We need a local, regional, continental and international response to this. This is a negative signpost for Nigeria, perhaps the worst since Muttalab’s attempted ‘crotch bomb’.”
"The government and the good people of Ekiti State commiserate with the leadership and staff members of the UN who were affected as well as their families. It is our belief that the  country’s security agencies will be on top of the situation and ensure that proper coordination is put in place to check this dangerous  trend.