President Goodluck Jonathan has welcomed the greater support for the war against terrorism from Nigeria’s neighbours.
Speaking Friday in Abuja at an audience with Mr. Emmanuel Issoze Ngondet, a Special Envoy of Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Jonathan also applauded the renewed and heightened commitment of Niger, Chad, Benin Republic and Cameroun to join forces with Nigeria to rid the West African sub-region of terrorism and violent extremism.
While restating that terrorist attacks on one country must be seen as an affront to all civilised nations, the President called for an even stronger and more effective regional, continental and global alliance against terrorism and its perpetrators.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted the President as saying: “Boko Haram and similar terrorist groups kill people indiscriminately hiding under religious beliefs that are not found in any of the Holy Books.
“They do not represent any civilised and rational people. Civilised and rational people of the world, who are in the clear majority, must therefore join forces to confront and defeat them.”
Jonathan thanked Ondimba for Gabon’s pledge to support Nigeria’s fight against insurgency and assured him of Nigeria’s total commitment to prosecuting the war against terrorism to a successful conclusion.
Earlier, Ngondet, who is Gabon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said his country welcomed the decision to form a multinational force that would confront terrorism.
He stated that Gabon shared Nigeria’s position that Boko Haram’s activities have no basis in religion and assured Jonathan of the support of his country and others in the Central African sub-region in fighting terrorism.
