Bombing: Tribute, tears as UN holds memorial service for dead victims
By John Alechenu
Friday, 16 Sep 2011


The United Nations office in Nigeria on Thursday held a memorial service for the 23 dead victims of the August 26 bombing in Abuja. The memorial service held amid wailing by relatives of the dead in attendance. The 23 who died in the blast were made up of 12 UN staff and 11 non-UN workers.

Apart from the dead victims, 116 others were injured in the bomb attack for which the terrorist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility.

At the event were members of the Federal Executive Council, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin; members of the diplomatic corps; top government officials and staff of the UN. Also in attendance were the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; and the Chief Imam of Abuja, Ustaz Musa Mohammed.

The UN Country Representative for Nigeria, Mr. Douda Toure, who read a tribute, sent to the gathering by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, said not only lives were lost but that dreams were shattered. Ban paid tributes to a female security officer who ran towards the vehicle conveying the terrorist thinking he had had an accident and needed help. She was blown off when the assailant detonated the bomb.

The Secretary-General said the sad event would not deter the UN from partnering with the government and people of Nigeria to improve the quality of life. Ban also revealed plans by the UN to review security arrangements in its missions across the world, noting that attacks on the UN were on the increase.

He said “This attack is against every principle and values of the United Nations. This is a sign of a clear ignorance of the mission of the United Nations’ system as a global moral voice, a non-political and composed of non-sectional organisations and agencies committed to working with partners to alleviate human suffering, promote peace, human rights and solidarity and improve the status and capacity of governments to deliver human and socio-economic development.

“Although we mourn, we are not defeated. Though we grieve, we are the more committed to our work.”

In a message read by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, President Goodluck Jonathan, reiterated his administration’s pledge to bring the perpetrator of the UN office building to justice as well as rehabilitate the UN office building.

A young man at about 10.30 on the morning of August 26 drove an explosives-laden Honda Accord car into the building, blasting and leaving it substantially damaged. Boko Haram has since identified the suicide bomber as a 27-year-old Nigerian named Mohammed Abul Barra.

Jonathan said, “This act must stand condemned by all men and women of goodwill. We are, however, consoled by the fact that there is no wound on earth that heavens cannot heal. It is the prayer of us all that God will condole with the families of the departed.

“I hereby wish to re-affirm government’s commitment to continue to work with the United Nations as partners for peace, development and progress and also to ensure the immediate rehabilitation of the UN building and complex.

“Government will also ensure that all those responsible for this terrorist act are brought to justice.”

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, said the FCT shared in the grief of families of those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

He also asked Nigerians to be united in the fight against fear, violence and terrorism.

Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who represented his colleagues said he and other governors in the North had agreed to partner with Jonathan to curb acts of terror.

Boko Haram, an Islamic sect founded in the 1990s in Maiduguri, Borno State, opposes western education and claims to be fighting for the introduction of Sharia law in the country. It is currently prosecuting a violent campaign against the Federal Government. On June 16, a suicide bomber attacked the Nigeria Police Headquarters in Abuja. The yet unidentified suicide bomber and a policeman died in the attack in which 70 vehicles were either burnt completely or damaged substantially. Boko Haram also claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group allegedly sent threat emails to 19 universities recently, vowing to attack their campuses.

Following similar threats at the University of Ibadan, and protests by students, authorities of the institution on Wednesday closed down the school and ordered the evacuation of the students.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201109163524423

rest in peace