BY TAIWO FAROTIMI
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a touching message to the people of Sri Lanka over the deadly attacks on churches and hotels there on Easter Day. In a statement signed by Malam Garba Sheu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity President Buhari commiserated with Sri Lankans from the position of a leader who, being in the middle of a terror war, knows the pain of such attacks on victims, their relations, the security apparatus and the government.
Hear him: “We stand with victims of terrorism all over the world because we know and understand this harrowing inhuman activity”. The president who has had to contend with the dreaded Boko Haram, which he inherited when he took office in 2015, is familiar with the unconventional warfare and the unpredictable strikes from terrorists.
With the statement, President Buhari joins world leaders who have shown umbrage over the attacks and sympathy for the victims, their relations and governments of countries that have lost nationals in the attacks on about three churches and four hotels in Sri Lanka. While also expressing solidarity with Sri Lanka over the incident, the President implore the authorities there “not to spare the wicked elements behind these mischievous attacks.”
Emergency workers are still battling with the aftermath of the attacks, even as the people and security operatives live in fear of likely further attacks. Seven attacks were recorded as at the last count, resulting in the death of 207 people and injury for over 400 others. Among the dead are security men who rose to protectors. Though their colleagues were also killed, other security operatives left behind have started making progress. Reports have it that seven persons are already being held in connection with the tragic exercise.