The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has apologised for causing the death of many people in the explosions which rocked the Federal capital yesterday. In an email sent to journalists today, Jomo Gbomo, the spokesperson of the group, said the group "deeply regrets the avoidable loss of lives during our bomb attack in Abuja on Friday October 1, 2010. Our hearts go to the families of those killed who we know were sympathetic to our cause".
The group said the failure of security forces to heed a warning it had given five days before the attack is responsible for the deaths
"The irresponsible attitude of the government security forces is to blame for the loss of lives. They were given 5 days prior notice which led to the harassment of Henry Okah on Thursday, September 30 in South Africa."
It also claimed that an hour before the attack, security forces were reminded of the impending violence but failed to act. It said the email received by journalists a few minutes before the explosions was sent only after the one to security agents. "The security forces were also warned one full hour to the first bomb blast ahead of the general alert sent to the media and told to steer the public from all parked cars which was not done."
The group's claim of responsibility for the attacks is coming hours after President Goodluck Jonathan said they were not responsible and blamed the explosions on terrorists. Mr. Jonathan told an ECOWAS gathering in Abuja today that ``What happened yesterday was a terrorist act and MEND was just used as a straw; MEND is not a terrorist group".
"The Niger Delta people are aware of the government's noble efforts to assuage the suffering and deprivation in that region," the President said. "I am from the Niger Delta, my father's house is few metres from an oil-well, so nobody can claim to be a Niger Deltan than myself. It is erroneous to think that my people who have been agitating for good living will deliberately blow up the opportunity they have now".
In a related development, Henry Okah, an alleged leader of the militant group, was arrested by South African police today and is being questioned. On Thursday, Interpol forces raided Mr Okah's home in South Africa but no action was taken against him. It is not clear yet if he will be charged following his latest arrest.
However, the group has exonerated him of involvement in Friday's bombings that killed at least 12 people and injured tens of others. "Okah has never been involved in any MEND operations but has always been blamed for every attack which is strange to us," the group said.
By Ayo Okulaja - 234next.
12 comments:
This Mend people are Crazy...Is it the govt that put the bomb dead!!!Some families are is SORROW right now and they issue this useless apology
Goodluck is crazy for that statement he made...Now he can choke on his words!
So they warned security forces so what will happened? Are they saying they wanted them to disable the bomb or what?
MEND is going too far by killing innocent citizens. This apology is not needed.
They went overboard & has lost sympathy from 9jas!....too much of everything is bad! Their apology is medicine after death!.....they have created hatred in the hearts of the family who lost a loved one...sigh!
first of all MEND are the biggest fools to have ever been born. what did they expect? they throw a couple of bombs and hope people don't get hurt? or do they think that they are on some bomb exhibition where they can tell the police, oh, we are going to be testing some car bombs so clear the area? what the heck. they are not peaceful and they have no cause. they are just money hungry, lazy freaks who are broke at the moment and need to shake up the government for some cash. simple.
to me, i felt they wanted to kill and were determined to kill. what of the lives that were lost in rivers state in 2008? was that also the fault of security forces? what they need is a nice, uncomfortable space at Kirikiri, then they'd respect life.
Jonathan is a retard. has always been and would always be. what does he think is the meaning of terror and terrorism? or is he trying to tell us that he is also sympathetic to their cause or is he saying that its ok for people to die as far as MEND is concerned? when bombs are being introduced into something then you know that lives are in danger and there is no need for covering anybody. every culprit must be brought to book; MEND or whoever and for him to have been fore warned by them and he ignored them shows the trouble we are in for if we let PDP ruin our elections again and give us this retard to rule over us and i hope that Nigerians are beginning to see that the basics like PROTECTING OF LIVES AND PROPERTY which should be the primary aim of the government is been brushed aside like it doesn't matter.
to MEND again....bombs aren't toys. they are weapons of mass destruction and SORRY doesn't fix anything. its just an empty word used by opportunists and selfish people to clear whatever's left of that thing they call a conscience. so its not ok, has never been ok and would never be ok. they have drawn the line and they should be rest assured that the masses they think they are fighting for would come back for their blood, after all they drew first and someone has got to pay.
Lindaa, this I know and I'm very much sure of: Jonathan is not psychologically prepared to be president of this great nation. There is total 'disconnection' between the man and his words!!! Men we need to shine not only our eyes but every part of our bodies in 2011.
goodluck,u have fallen my hand,my leg and every part of my body....if MEND is not a terrorist group for exploding bombs that claimed at least 12 lives n injured 30others what r they?oookk i get it they are "ROYAL AMBASSADORS",or NGO?or CHARITY GROUP FROM CHRIST EMBASSY,WINNERS,REDEEM OR CATHOLIC?or perhaps a political party abi?rubbish...it would have been best he kept quite than that speech as it shows he doesn't know how to respond to such situations...and as for MEND,whats wit d apology for the lives lost?when u wee setting the bombs did it look like FIREWORKS that cant kill anyone?dduuhhh!!!b sorry for yourselves as u have lost it completely this time...but then again,they told the govt b4 hand, whether they were serious or joking y didn't d FG take it serious and in quote do what they said by clearing people from beside parked cars?we don't seem to b ready for crisis like this as even after the bomb went off d 50th celebration continued @eagle square which is just a few meters from the place....its sad....
God punish them and may the blood of the dead hunt them till they die
please arrest these people for murder! who cares about their sympathy
Look at somebody's president. What kind of stupid statement is that. Was he trying to cover them up cus they are from his place or what?
GEJ will be an enormous mistake!
Hey i am suuper boy
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