Boko Haram Cannot Attack Abuja Again – President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the dreaded Boko Haram sect who in recent times have stepped up their killings especially in the northern part of the country cannot attack Abuja because of the security measures put in place by his administration


The president said this while answering to questions during his fifth Presidential Media Chat since returning to office in May 2011.

Asked by the interviewer what his administration is doing and what assurance he has for Nigerians especially in the wake of recent attacks in the country by the Boko Haram sect, President Jonathan said his government has provided adequate security in the Federal Capital to prevent any of such attacks like the UN building and Force Headquarters attack carried out by the Boko Haram.

When he was reminded about the security of other parts of the country and not the FCT alone, the president answered to the disappointment of many.

“I’m not God and can’t say it will never happen. But I promise Nigerians that within the limit of human competences, I will make sure we do not get to that situation,” Jonathan said.

It will be recalled that the last time a similar challenged was made, the Federal Capital witnessed attacks from Boko Haram sect.

The then Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim had in 2011 boasted that Boko Haram would be wiped on with a few days, but few days after precisely on the 16th of July, the sect bombed the Police Force Headquarter in was believed to be the first suicide bombing in Nigeria’s history.

The attack occurred when a suicide bomber drove a car bomb onto the premises of the Louis Edet House in Abuja, the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force. He may have been trying to kill Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim, whose convoy he followed into the compound, but he was stopped by security before he could do so.

On the recent killing of at least seven occupants in an uncompleted building by security agencies in Abuja, the president said there were definitely Boko Haram elements in the unfinished building.

President Jonathan also said he does not know if the leader of the Boko Haram sect Abubakar Shekau is dead or Alive. “As president, I don’t know whether he is dead or alive. I don’t want to speculate,” Jonathan said.