Jonathan says BH “wake-up” attack is “line in the sand”
President Goodluck Jonathan has called the most recent attack by Boko Haram a “wake up” call that has drawn a “line in the sand”, according to tweets from Paris. He is attending a security summit in Paris called by French President Francoise Hollande in the wake of mass abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from […]
President Goodluck Jonathan has called the most recent attack by Boko Haram a “wake up” call that has drawn a “line in the sand”, according to tweets from Paris.
He is attending a security summit in Paris called by French President Francoise Hollande in the wake of mass abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok.
“This latest attack is a wakeup call for all of us. A line has been drawn in the sand, a test is put to each of us,” he said in one tweet by his spokesman Reuben Abati.
In another tweet, the president said: “Nigeria will rise up to this challenge & prevail. I call upon each one of you to stand up & be counted with us.”
“An attack on one country is an attack on all of us and our common humanity.”
“This is not anymore a challenge to Nigeria alone; it is a threat to each and every one of us,” he told the summit.
The French President said Boko Haram had links with terror groups in North Africa.
Other regional African leaders are also attending the meeting, for which President Jonathan gave up a scheduled visit to Chibok, where the girls were abducted on April 14.
Reports indicate military intervention by foreign nations will not be on the agenda for the security talks, though the summit will assess assistance rendered by foreign forces including the US, the UK, and France in the operation against Boko Haram over the kidnappings.
But the president will be urged to seek closer cooperation with neighbouring countries in West Africa, including Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin to better tackle the militants.
“We will not succumb to terrorists & their dangerous tactics. Terrorists will not be allowed to define who we are.”