Buhari condemns Maiduguri mosque bombings

President Muhammed Buhari has condemned the suicide attacks on a mosque at Umarari village, on the outskirt of Maiduguri, Borno State.

At least 22 persons were confirmed dead and 18 injured in the two bomb attacks that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.

Nigerian Army spokesman Sani Usman said the first attack targeted a mosque, while the second blast occurred about 50 metres away, a few minutes later

“I am dismayed by the news of a bomb attack on innocent worshippers in a mosque in Maiduguri this morning,” Buhari said in a statement hours after the fatal attack on worshippers. “This attack is yet another sign that Boko Haram is a mindless and godless group that in no way represents true Islam.”

The attack came after the Nigerian military recorded a series of successful campaigns against members of Boko Haram, smoking the terrorist out of their enclaves in northeast Nigeria.

“We are using the same guerrilla strategy adopted by the terrorists. We are giving them back their own strategy. We have motorbike battalion which has added more capacity as well as the ability to move quickly to wherever the terrorists are,” Chief of Army Staff General T. Y. Buratai said in Ibadan recently.

Buhari, further in his statement, expressed his sympathy for those “who lost family and loved ones in the attack, and with the government and people of Borno State.”

He restated his government’s commitment to securing Nigeria from terrorism and violence but advised Nigerians to be vigilant and security conscious.

“Nigerians should please not let down their guard. Vigilance should continue to be a priority, especially in public places.”