The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the Minister of Youth Development and Supervising Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, have condemned the bomb attacks on the offices of ThisDay in Abuja and those of ThisDay, The Sun and Moment in Kaduna on Thursday.
Dreaded sect, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Fayemi described the bombing as heinous, wicked, heartless and dastardly.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, Fayemi said the media do not deserve such an attack given the important roles played by journalists in nation building.
He noted that the media contributed immensely to the enthronement of democracy being enjoyed by Nigerians, wondering why a group or individuals could mastermind such a horrendous attack on media houses, thereby killing innocent Nigerians in the process.
Fayemi urged the media not to be deterred by the latest attack but to see it as a challenge that could be surmounted in partnership with relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian project.
The governor restated the need for state police to curtail the Boko Haram phenomenom and other security issues in the country, adding that it was important to fish out the real drivers of the ugly trend.
According to him: “We need to tighten local security arrangement and by that we must go back to that old age issues. State Police is an imperative because the Nigerian Police is over burdened and incapable of responding to these issues in a way it ought to.”
Fayemi said it is worrisome that the country does not have the intelligence required to address terrorism, adding that a scientific approach must be deployed to deal with a threat that is not seen.
Fayemi commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives while wishing those receiving treatment in various hospitals speedy recovery.
In a condolence letter to Thisday, Mallam Abdullahi described the attacks as callous, wicked and “calculated to weaken your resolve to pursue high standard of journalism.”
He said: “It is unfortunate that your group would be the target of terrorists considering your highly revered tradition and commitment to objective and fair reporting, which has been commended over the years.
Abdullahi urged the newspaper to remain firm and steadfast “and to continue to hold on to the cherished values of free enterprise, fair and balanced reporting, which you are known for.”
He commiserated with the families of the deceased and prayed that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.