We’re reassessing security in Nigeria -UN •Emotions as memorial ceremony is held for Abuja bomb blast victims

IT was an outpouring of emotions in Abuja, on Thursday, as the United Nations (UN) held a memorial ceremony for the dead victims of the August 26, 2011 suicide attack on its office in Abuja. Twenty-One persons made up of 14 males and seven females were confirmed dead, while two non-UN staff members are yet to be identified.
 Families, sympathisers and other well-wishers thronged what remains of the bombed UN House to pay memorial homage to the dead UN staff and visitors to the building.
The ceremony was held as the global body disclosed that it was reassessing security in the country and elsewhere, according to it, given the implications of what was the first attack of its kind in the country.
Speaking at the event through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, President Goodluck Jonathan stated that, “Now is the time to strengthen our cooperation and faith in the United Nations despite the attack by evil-minded persons.”
The president, who performed the traditional laying of wreath at exactly 11.30 a.m., maintained that “we shall continue to march on until global peace and security are achieved” and vowed that government would ensure that all those responsible for the terrorist attack were brought to justice.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to continue to work with the UN as partners for peace, development and progress and also to ensure the immediate rehabilitation of the UN building and complex.
President Jonathan told the bereaved families to be consoled by the fact that there was no wound that Heaven could not heal, promising to support them in their future endeavours.
He said: “It is our solemn prayer that this sad incident will never happen again. Evil will never triumph over good nor darkness over light.”
Confirming the reassessment of security in the country by the UN in his tribute, the Secretary General of the UN, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, lamented that such attacks on the UN premises around the world had only increased in recent years.

Meanwhile, in their effort to checkmate the menace of bombings by the Boko Haram, the police are now to embark on scientific intelligence gathering.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (retd), who said this during a meeting with the state commissioners of police and the police hierarchy at the National Judicial Insti-tute (NJI), Abuja, on Thurs-day, said plans were on course to procure the necessary equipment needed for the task.
He said the gathering of the senior police officers was to brainstorm the daunting security challenges facing the country, adding that they were surmountable if all the security agencies worked together.
According to him, “with your vast experiences gathered over the years in policing, we will surmount the menace, while the government will provide all the necessary working tools and good welfare package.”
He said the time had come for the force to set standards, adding that henceforth, only officers who had gone for a professional course would be divisional police officers and other higher positions in the police.
On inadequate funding of the police, the minister said he would personally take it up with the govern-ment, to ensure that the Nigeria police was one of the best in Africa.
Also, he said attention would be focused on com-munity policing, while collaboration with other security agencies would be encouraged.