N60billion to fight terrorism in Nigeria

The fund is expected to be used for the
rehabilitation of victims of terror attacks across the
nation.
The federal government on Thursday realised over
N60 billion as individuals and groups donated to the
Victims of Terror Support Fund launched in Abuja.
The fund is expected to be used for the
rehabilitation of victims of terror attacks across the
nation.
Over 13,000 people have been killed in attacks by
the Boko Haram sect while hundreds of thousands
of people have been displaced and thousands of
property destroyed.
Speaking at the fund raising dinner on Thursday
Night, President Goodluck Jonathan said his
government would neither “give in to nor give up on
terrorism” but will rise up to the occasion and
“defeat the evil philosophy” which the terrorists
represent.
Mr. Jonathan announced the federal government’s
donation of N10 billion to the fund.
He said in the fight against terrorists, Nigeria and
Nigerians have two choices: to sit down and
bemoan the action of terrorists or stand up and fight
it.
“By this fund raising initiative, we have chosen the
later,” he said.
“Those who are trying to destroy the future of
Nigeria on the basis of ethnicity and religion are
missing the point. Injury to one Nigerian is injury to
all of us. Discomfort to any part of Nigeria is
discomfort to the rest of the country.
“We want a peaceful country where everybody is
happy. We must all must work to bequeath a
country of justice to our children,” he added.
The president said although Nigeria was going
through a very difficult phase in its history, the
country would triumph over the terrorists.
“Problems do not solve themselves. Lamentations
cannot solve problems. We solve problems by
standing up and taking actions. Nigerians are equal
to the task,” he said.
He noted that the Victim Support Fund is a short-
term measure meant to cushion the effects of the
terrorists’ attacks on Nigerians, while his
government strived to defeat the terrorists.
“We will defeat terror and I will lead Nigerians to do
it,” he said; adding that no effort would be spared in
ensuring that the abducted Chibok school girls are
brought back safe and alive.
The over 200 teenage school girls were kidnapped
by the Boko Haram from their school on April 14.
Mr. Jonathan also said that by attacking churches
and mosques, the terrorists have proven that they
are enemies of all Nigerians and Nigerians must
unite to defeat them.
“As Nigerians we must find strength in this trying
times. We must redefine our sense of purpose at
times like this. We must tap into our sense of unity
in the face of this relentless assault from terrorists.
“We cannot determine what terrorists do with their
minds but we can determine what we do with ours.
We must collectively come together to defeat these
terrorists and their evil philosophy,” he said.
Some of the largest donors on Thursday night
include Theophilus Danjuma, $10 million;
Aliko Dangote, N1 billion; Jim Ovia, N1 billion; Tony
Elumelu, N2.5 billion; Mike Adenuga, N1 billion; Wale
Tinubu, N1 billion; Arthur Eze, $5 million;
Mohammed Ndimi, $5 million; Kabiru Rabiu, N500
million; Dahiru Mangal N500 million; and Folorunsho
Alakija, N500 million.
Others include a group of oil sector players, N17
billion; bankers N15 billion, telecom sector players
N1 billion; state governors, N3.7 billion; and
ministers, N50 million.
The Victims Support Fund is to be managed by a
committee headed by Mr. Danjuma, a former Army
chief and one of Nigeria’s richest men.