Four killed as blast rocks Maiduguri mosque

Four people were killed in Maiduguri, Borno State, following a bomb blast near a mosque yesterday. The blast was said to have taken place as Muslims left a mosque after Friday prayers. The explosion came after the Christmas attacks on Madalla Church, Niger state by the violent Islamist sect Boko Haram killed at least 32 people. The sect also explained why it struck at the church.  No one has claimed responsibility for the Maiduguri blast.

Meanwhile, Nigerian security services are considering making contact with moderate members of Boko Haram via “back channels,” even though explicit talks are officially ruled out, the National Security Adviser, General Owoye Andrew Azazi said yesterday. Azazi told Reuters officials secret services were looking at broadening efforts beyond pure security measures — including addressing northern economic grievances.
Azazi’s comments signal an apparent shift from treating Boko Haram purely as a security issue that must be tackled militarily. But his statement contrasts with President Goodluck Jonathan’s who said yesterday that government would fight the sect with all its might, thereby foreclosing any form of dialogue and amnesty as
being canvassed in certain quarters.
Speaking to Mr. Mohame Bazoum, Deputy Prime Minister of Niger Republic, who brought a condolence message for lives lost during the Christmas day bombings and solidarity message from President Issoufou Mahamadou to State House, Abuja, Friday, Jonathan vowed that it was time for good to prevail over evil.
Also, for the second day in a stretch, President Jonathan Friday continued an emergency meeting with top security echelon but this time without the service chiefs,  giving fresh orders to security to fish out the sponsors of the Boko Haram sect and put an end to the condemnable pace of bombing in the country.
Beside the National Security Adviser, NSA, Gen. Andrew Azazi (rtd), others in the meeting were the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, Director General State Security Service, SSS, Ita Ekpenyong,  and Director-General, Nigeria Intelligence Agency, NIA, Olaniyi Oladeji. President Jonathan reiterated his warning that henceforth nobody would be spared if the person fails to act on information provided.
Boko Haram has however justified its Christmas bombings at the St Theresa catholic Church Madalla, saying it was a reprisal for the Muslims killed in parts of the north by Christians. It also  threatened to unleash more strikes today, December31 an January 1.
Fear more attacks, Christians in some some northern states have deserted their churches, festivals have been cancelled while residents in Jos, capital of Plateau state fear a possible attack. Residents in Damaturu, capital of Yobe state have also deserted the city.
From the South East, Chairman of the region’s Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has told Christians not to be intimidated by the sect.
In its statement issued on Thursday by its leader Imam Abu-Muhammad Abubakar bin Muhammad Shekau, Boko Haram through its spokesman Abul Qaqa said, “I am informing all Nigerians and the rest of the world that there is no doubt that we committed that act and God’s willing we will carry out further attacks.” We swear by Allah that we will avenge any form of injustice committed, being committed or to be committed against Muslims. This is just the beginning,” Shekau vowed.
The attacks, he said,  are meant to avenge the “mass killing of Muslims carried out by Christians with the connivance of government.”
But  CAN leader, South East zone, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, told Christians not to be intimidated by the recent  attacks on their places of worship but to be vigilant.
The people of Southern Kaduna, largely Christians, fearing possible Boko Haram bombing, has however cancelled its 2012 Afan Festival, also known as Kagoro Day. The event, the largest and most popular ethnic festival in Northern Nigeria, is normally held on the 1st of January.
Boko Haram  had vowed to bomb Christian communities on 31st Dec and 1st Jan 2012.  The cancellation of Kagoro Day was contained in a statement yesterday in Kagoro, Southern Kaduna by president of its development association, Sunday Gwafan.