The National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi (rtd), has assured southerners living in the northern part of Nigeria of their safety, following a three-day ultimatum issued by Boko Haram for them to vacate the north or face attacks.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, Azazi said that the federal government was committed to adequate protection of its citizens, irrespective of their religious or political affiliations.
According to Azazi, the government has the capacity to protect the citizens of the country, saying that the people should go about their normal businesses, as government has put adequate measures in place.
He said, “There is no cause for alarm. Nigerians should disregard the threat. I can assure you that the security forces are up to it.”
Azazi added that government was on top of the security situation in the country and urged southerners in the north to ignore the threat.
A spokesman of Boko Haram, Abul Qaqa, had on Sunday, purportedly issued the three-day ultimatum asking all southerners to leave the north.
Qaqa, in a phone interview with some journalists had said, “We find it pertinent to state that soldiers will only kill innocent Muslims in the local government areas where the state of emergency was declared.”
Speaking in Hausa language, Qaqa added, “We also wish to call on our fellow Muslims to come back to the north because we have evidence that they would be attacked. We are also giving a three-day ultimatum to southerners living in the northern part of Nigeria to move away.”
The self acclaimed Boko Haram spokesman also condemned President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to St. Theresa Catholic Church Madalla, Niger State, which was attacked on Christmas Day.
Qaqa said: “The President had never visited any of the theatres where Muslims were massacred.” He? then named areas where scores of Muslims were killed in post-election riots last April, sayingthat nothing was done to bring the culprits to justice.
He said the group was not deterred by the presence of troops in some areas where President Jonathan declared state of emergency last Saturday adding that his members were ready for a confrontation.