Abuja - Nigeria — The ECOWAS Commission condemns the spate of terrorist attacks which have recently claimed scores of lives in different parts of Nigeria thereby aggravating insecurity among both citizens and visitors.

The Commission notes with regret that the latest deadly attacks in the country's ancient northern city of Kano on Friday, 20th January 2012 happened in spite of the determined efforts by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to rein in those behind these attacks.

The Commission would, in the circumstance, like to express its sincere condolences to all the families who lost their loved ones or were injured in the various terrorist attacks, including the sad death of the Channels Television's Reporter in Kano in the 20th January violence. In expressing its sorrow and solidarity, the Commission wishes to reassure the Government and the good people of Nigeria that it stands solidly behind them in this trying moments.

The Commission reiterates it unflinching support for all national and regional efforts aimed at ridding the ECOWAS region of terrorism and organized crimes as they threaten the cherished peace and security that has been achieved in the region. The Commission also calls on the Governments of Member States and all security agencies to rise to the occasion by protecting the lives and property of citizens at all times while bringing perpetrators of such heinous crimes to book.

It is only through the defence of our collective principles and security that the dream of the founding fathers and the objectives of the ECOWAS Vision 2020 aimed at transforming our region into an ECOWAS of people living in a peaceful and secure environment and benefitting from the abundant potentialities and resources of our region can be pursued.