Outrage trails terrorists’ attack on Abuja-Kaduna train

There was outrage and mourning on Tuesday over the Monday attack on Abuja-Kaduna train by terrorists, leading to many deaths and injuries.

Daily Trust had reported how terrorists bombed a rail track and opened fire on passengers, abducting some and killing others. 

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President Muhammadu Buhari said he was deeply pained by the attack, which he described as a “matter of grave concern.”

The president spoke Tuesday at the State House in Abuja after receiving briefs from the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor.

“Like most Nigerians, I am deeply pained by its occurrence, the second of its type, which has resulted in the death of a yet-to-be-determined number of passengers and others who suffered injuries.

“The attack on the train, a safe means of transport for many, is callous; and our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers for the injured,” he said in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu.

President Buhari restated his earlier directive that the military should deal ruthlessly with terrorists, asking them to be more decisive and not spare anyone unlawfully wielding the AK 47 weapon.

“No one should be allowed to hold the country to ransom,” said the president.

President Buhari directed the immediate conclusion of all the processes for the implementation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution for the Abuja to Kaduna railway line, adding that it should be extended to cover the Lagos-Ibadan railway line.

He also directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation management to speedily repair the damaged lines and resume normal service without delay.

The president charged the law enforcement chiefs to bring back all passengers kidnapped and ensure that each of the callous terrorists are hunted down and made to face justice for their heinous acts as no one or group should be allowed to make the country prostrate.

Bombard terrorist enclaves – Senate

The Senate yesterday urged the army and air force to bombard terrorist enclaves with a view to restoring peace and stability in the country.

This followed a point of order raised on “the continuing attacks on communities and public facilities in Kaduna State” by Senator Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna).

Sani noted that terrorists have in recent times stepped up attacks on some communities and public facilities in Kaduna State.

“These latest attacks are aimed at instilling fear in the people and destroying the economies of our local communities.

“It is disheartening that these enemies of the people are getting emboldened by the day. They are becoming more brazen. These blood-cuddling vampires have no regard for human life. They have no place in a civilised society,” he added.

He expressed concern that the unrelenting attacks call to question the strategies and tactics being adopted by our security forces. He explained that the advocacy for creation of State Police would bring law enforcement closer to the people.

The Senate, in its resolutions, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare full scale war against terrorists, so as to fully secure all our national territory from them in whatever guise.

It urged the army and the air force to carry out sustained bombardment of terrorist enclaves with a view to flushing them out and restoring peace and stability to our communities.

It added that the military should, as a matter of urgency, monitor the construction and inhabitants of new shanty buildings around the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

Reps summon security chiefs

The House of Representatives has invited leaders of security agencies to an emergency meeting after an extensive debate on the rate of insecurity in Nigeria at the plenary on Tuesday.

Those to appear before the House include the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.); Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd.); Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao; Director-General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Director-General, NCAA, Musa Nuhu; Managing Director, FAAN, Rabiu Yadudu; Managing Director, NAMA, Mathew Pwajok; and General Manager, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria.

The resolution followed a motion during plenary yesterday by Nnolim Nnaji (PDP, Enugu), who expressed concern that the botched bandits’ attack on Kaduna International Airport may escalate to other airports across the country if not checked.

The house also called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Chief of Defense Staff, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and heads of other security agencies, to set up a special security task force on airports and railways across the country.

Tinubu cancels colloquium

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has cancelled his annual colloquium over a terrorist attack on a Kaduna-bound train on Monday.

The colloquium was slated for Tuesday in Lagos in commemoration of Tinubu’s 70th birthday. Tinubu announced the cancellation of his 70th birthday celebration on the stage at Eko Hotel and Suites where guests and well-wishers were already seated for the event.

The APC presidential aspirant urged clerics and everyone present to pray to God to help Nigeria win the war against terrorism.

He said as a senior citizen, he cannot be celebrating while others are in sorrow. He asked everyone to go back home and pray for Nigeria.

Tinubu noted that his birthday should be marked in sober reflection and prayer for the country.

He said, “This event should not be held. I hereby cancel this colloquium due to the incident in Kaduna. I urge you all to pray that Nigeria win this war against evil.”

Train attack, a direct dare at Nigerian State – Northern senators

The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has expressed shock and outrage over the Monday night attack and urges the military to re-strategise on handling the security situation in the North West.

The forum’s chairman and a former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, described the attack as a direct dare at the Nigerian State and its security forces. Wamakko, who is also chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, in a statement, said the loss of lives of innocent and defenceless Nigerians must be halted immediately.

The senators described the attack as “heinous and unforgivable” and charged the security agencies to come together and pursue the criminals.

Life is near worthless under APC, Buhari – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the successful ambush of the train on the Abuja-Kaduna rail by terrorists in an operation that lasted for over an hour confirmed its stand that the security command and control coordination structure under President Muhammadu Buhari had collapsed.

The national publicity secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement yesterday said the situation in the country was evidenced by the vicious terrorist attack on innocent Nigerians travelling in a Kaduna State-bound train on Monday. 

The party said the complicity of silence by the Buhari administration on the Saturday’s airport attack emboldened the terrorists to assault the train; a development which also validated PDP’s position that the APC administration had conceded sovereignty over parts of our country to terrorists.

The PDP said, “The continued silence and obvious helplessness of the Buhari presidency on these deadly attacks on our nation’s key transportation sectors raises apprehensions of possible complicity at the very top level of the APC administration. 

“It is callous and unfortunate that the APC government, in its usual insensitive nature attempted to suppress information by keeping mute over 24 hours after this horrendous attack which claimed the lives of promising Nigerians among whom was a young medical doctor, Dr Chinelo Megafu who was fatally shot in the ill-fated train travel.

“Nigerians can recall the confession by a former APC leader that these assailants are terrorists brought from neighboring countries by the APC as “political mercenaries” to rig the 2019 general elections.

“In 2021 over 10,366 Nigerians were killed by terrorists with over 2,900 abductions in countless terrorism related attacks in which no fewer than 964 security agents were killed, as revealed by SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence Report published in January 3, 2022.

“Those killed in 2021 represents a scary 47% increase in the 7063 massacred by terrorists in 2020.” 

NRC begs residents of railway corridor for information 

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) yesterday appealed to members of the public residing on the rail corridor to always supply it with useful information that could prevent any attack or untoward activities on the rail lines.

“This irresponsible act of threatening the lives of peaceful and law-abiding Nigerians and deliberate destruction of the federal government’s critical infrastructure, will not be condoned as all hands are now on deck to fish out the perpetrators to face the full wrath of the extant law of the land,” Deputy Director, Public Relations of the NRC, Mr Mahmood Yakub, said in a statement.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) expressed sadness over the death of its member, Dr Chinelo Megafu Nwando, who lost her life from gunshot injuries sustained during the terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train.

 The association in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Aniekeme Uwah, urged the federal government to give strong consideration to the establishment of state police to further complement the efforts of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

Also, the President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, urged the federal government to buy a security surveillance system to monitor the rail line as it is the lifeline of business and human operations in North Western Nigeria.