By COLLINS YAKUBU-HAMMER

The Federal Government has vowed to hunt down and bring to justice the perpetrators of the heinous killings of worshippers in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made this known in a statement he personally signed on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, the callous and barbaric attack on the harmless citizens who had gathered in peace to worship was a crime that must not go unpunished.

Idris disclosed that security forces were already on the trail of the criminals, vowing, “no stone would be left unturned until they are apprehended and held accountable for their actions.

“The government assures Nigerians that justice will be swift and decisive, and that such acts of terror will never be allowed to take root in the country.”

According to the minister, the Federal Government condemns this wanton act of violence in the strongest terms.

Idris added, “This is not only an assault on the people of Malumfashi but also on our shared humanity and values as a nation.

“President Bola Tinubu extends his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, the people of Malumfashi, and the Katsina State Government.

“Their grief is our grief, and the Government stands with them at this dark hour.

“May the Almighty grant the departed eternal rest and console the bereaved with the fortitude to bear this painful loss.

“The Federal Government, therefore, reiterates that those who shed innocent blood will find no hiding place in Nigeria.”

He further explained that only recently, as part of the government’s efforts to bring terrorists to their knees, Nigeria’s National Counter-Insurgency Centre (NCTC) announced the arrest of top leaders of a savage group of terrorists.

He added that they included Mahmud al-Nigeri of the Mahmuda group, and his deputy, Abu Abba, alongside Mahmud Muhammad Usman (Abu Baraa) of the Ansaru group.

Idris stressed that the terrorist leaders, now conveniently in the net, were on the international wanted list.

He added, “The arrests of the terrorist leaders are an indication of the successes being recorded by Nigeria’s counter terrorism operations as directed by Tinubu.

“The president has made it very clear that acts of terrorism against the Nigerian state and its citizens will soon be a spectre of the past.” (NAN)