Boko Haram: Jonathan Promises Lasting Solution To Security Challenges

SAN FRANCISCO, December 30, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to provide a lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace, assuring that his administration was committed to wiping out the Islamic fundamentalist sect from the country.

Speaking during a Church Service at the "Ekklisiyar Yaruwa a Nigeria", EYN, (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), Utako, Abuja, Sunday, the president said adequate measures had been put in place to tackle the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgents.

Jonathan disclosed that the Federal Government's efforts in busting the activities of the group had started yielding desired results.

"The Boko Haram planned to carry out a lot of attacks on Christmas day, but we suppressed their plans and their plans could not be executed because of the strategies put in place by the security agencies.

"Although, we still recorded some incidents, the extent of attacks which they planned was not allowed to be executed.

"Boko Haram will not push us backwards. If their plan is to stop government from providing the dividends of democracy, they would not succeed because 2013 will be a good year for Nigerians and Nigeria.With your persistent prayer, we shall defeat them," Jonathan said.

The President, who attended the service with his mother, Mrs Ayi, his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadome, Sen. Philip Aduda (PDP-FCT),the Executive Secretary, Christians Pilgrims Board, John Kennedy-Opara and some other presidential aides, however commended the EYN church nationwide for keeping the faith and remaining calm even in the face of provocation.

The Pastor of the Church, Rev. Daniel Mbaya, had disclosed earlier that 50 of the Church's branches were burnt by Boko Haram with 109 of their members killed during attacks from the Islamic sect. He also said that the Church had suffered greatly from Boko Haram because its operations were concentrated in the North-eastern part of the country where Boko Haram reigned supreme.

Mbaya,who delivered a sermon titled, Working with God, and stressed the need to put God first in all human endeavour, however expressed gratitude to the President for making time out to worship with them. He said by his presence at the Church service, Jonathan had demonstrated that the country was blessed with a caring, loving and concerned leader.