The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the Christmas Eve explosion in a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, criticising the Bola Tinubu-led government for “failing woefully” to protect Nigerians.

The party, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Ini Ememobong, in Abuja on Thursday, said the news of the explosion served as another sad reminder of the rising insecurity facing Nigerians.

He described the incident as totally unacceptable, urging that the menace should be confronted with the urgency and seriousness it deserved.

“The news of an explosion in a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, is another sad reminder of the rising insecurity that has become the unfortunate contemporary reality that Nigerians face.

“This is totally unacceptable; the irreducible minimum the government should offer its people is the protection of lives and property. This administration has failed woefully in this respect and should rise to the occasion rather than resort to rhetoric and playing politics with security,” he said.

Mr Ememobong called on the federal and state governments to take immediate and practical steps to protect citizens throughout the yuletide and beyond.

“We commiserate with the families of those who have lost their loved ones in this senseless attack. No one should lose their life while worshipping God.

“If these attacks on places of worship continue unchecked, they will not only violate the constitutional right of Nigerians to freely worship but will also create an atmosphere of fear that threatens the very fabric of our religious society.

“We call on the federal and state governments to take immediate and practical steps to protect our citizens throughout this yuletide season and beyond. Nigerians deserve more than empty promises and political rhetoric.

Mr Ememobong said Nigerians needed concrete, actionable security strategies deployed on the ground.

(NAN)