The Islamic State yesterday mentioned Nigeria in a statement it issued, claiming responsibility for coordinated attacks in different parts of Paris by assailants numbering eight, which resulted in the death of 129 people, and left at least 352 injured.
In an online statement distributed by supporters on Saturday, ISIS said eight militants wearing explosive belts and armed with machine guns attacked precisely selected areas in the French capital.
Nothing elaborate was however said about Nigeria, apart from a mention in a post on the terrorist group’s blog.
The statement, posted on ISIS’ blog, according to a tweet by TRACterrorisim.org, reads, “O people crusaders: when you deploy forces in order to control the city Saladin and dreaming of Mosul, Sinjar, Haul, Tikrit or Huwaijah or dreaming Mayadin or Jarablus or Karmah or Tel Abyad or Al Qaim or Darnah or dream to reclaim the wilderness in the interior Nigeria or master ‘Asy’asy Sinai desert sand, then surel, WE just want ROME and PARIS Insyallah before before ANDALUSIA (UKK).”
With ISIS claiming responsibility for the Paris attacks, investigation has moved beyond France as Belgian authorities made a number of arrests there in the first publicised apprehensions after Friday night’s bloodshed, a Belgian Justice Ministry spokeswoman said yesterday. Three people were reportedly arrested in Molenbeek district of Brussels in connection with the attacks.
France has vowed revenge for the attacks. President Francois Hollande deemed the shootings and bombings “an act of war.”
He said early Saturday, “We will lead the fight, and we will be ruthless.”
Muhammadu Buhari has sympathised with the government and people of France over Friday’s attacks and has called on world leaders to come together to confront terrorism.
This was contained in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina.
Buhari said Friday’s attack underscored the need for “all peace-loving nations of the world to intensify ongoing multilateral cooperation and collaborative actions aimed at bringing the scourge of international terrorism to a speedy end for the benefit of all nations”.
While condemning the dastardly act, the president described the attacks as an unacceptable affront to all human values and civilized norms.
“As a country which has borne the terrible human cost of terrorist attacks, Nigeria stands in full solidarity with the government and people of France as they mourn those who have sadly lost their lives in the attack on Paris,” he said.
