Group condemns shopping mall blast, alleges sabotage

By Awaal Gata

The Northern Alternative Forum, a political pressure group, has condemned Wednesday’s bomb blast at Emab Plaza which killed over 20 people.
A statement issued by the group’s shairman, Alhaji Gidado Ibrahim, said: Our group commiserates with the families of those who lost their lives in the said attack. But most importantly, I wish to draw the attention of Nigerians to activities of some disgruntled politicians who we believe are the brains behind the spate of bombings and killings in parts of the country in order to cast President Goodluck Jonathan and his government in bad light ahead of the 2015 elections.”
The statement added that: “We want Nigerians to know that what is happening in this country today is not anything about religion.
“This insurgency has been hijacked by politicians and we are calling on the politicians to desist, to stop making statements that are inflammatory.”
The group further called on security agencies to “beam their searchlight on politicians who consistently make inciting and unguarded utterances to further their selfish political ambitions.”
“The forum is pained by the upsurge of attacks on innocent citizens and expresses confidence in the capacity of the Nigerian security forces to overcome the insurgency and return the country to the path of peace.”