The Nation
24 March 2011
In apparent deference to the oft-quoted aphorism that ‘once bitten, twice shy’, the Federal Government is not taking for granted, the recent threat by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), to launch bomb attacks on Abuja, Lagos as well as oil installations in the Niger Delta.
In two statements issued on March 14 and 15, respectively, and signed by the ‘ghostly’ Jomo Gbomo, MEND said its threatened bombing campaign is to cripple the economy due to what it described as President Goodluck Jonathan’s unwillingness to address the key issues of the Niger Delta. MEND asked people to stay away from political gatherings and other public places, but promised to issue a final warning 30 minutes before any blast, after which a statement claiming responsibility would be made.
The Federal Government responded swiftly by directing all security agencies to be on the alert nation-wide, and to counter the threat issued by MEND. However, it is astonishing that some of the security agencies expected to check the execution of this new threat by MEND either underestimated the problem or have an exaggerated view of their capacity to contain the new menace of bombing in the country.
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