Terrorists who kidnapped the Kaduna-Abuja train passengers on March 28, 2022, have vowed to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari and governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai if their requests are not met.
The terrorists, suspected to be members of Ansaru, also stated that they would abduct other prominent Nigerians, as well as cause mayhem in the country.
These were contained in a new video the group released yesterday. The viral video saw the terrorists flogging the remaining male passengers of the ill-fated train attack, while female passengers were asked to line in front of the male passengers.
The nearly three minutes video showed a bearded passenger, who was asked to speak on their behalf, saying the terrorists told them that they did not plan to keep them as hostage for more than a week, but for government’s nonchalance. He, therefore, called on the international community and the United Nations (UN) to come to their aid since the government has failed to ensure their freedom.
Also, in the background, an elderly woman, about 85 years old, was heard cursing the Federal Government in Hausa, saying, “Allah ya isa” (meaning We leave you with God). She lamented that they voted the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari with the hope that the North and entire country would be secured, but it was all in vain.
The terrorists threatened to kill and sell off some of the remaining train passengers in captivity.
“This is our message to the government of Nigeria and just as you have seen these people here, by God’s grace, you will see your leaders; your senators and governors will come before us. These ones you are seeing here, we will keep some as our slaves and sell them off just as our Imam told you in the past.
“Just like the Chibok girls that were sold off, we will equally sell these ones as slaves. If you don’t adhere to our demands, we will kill the ones we need to kill and sell the remaining. By God’s grace, El-Rufai, Buhari, we will bring you here.”
One of the Boko Haram members who escaped from the Kuje correctional facility in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, appeared in the latest video of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
The escapee, who did not state his name was among the three terrorists who posed on camera in the new video speaking ill of the government and the victims of the train attack. The man also threatened to kidnap el-Rufai.
“Let the government know I am one of the Kuje prison escapees. I am here, God has rescued me, I am now once again bearing arm. We are going to destroy this country, come and follow us, we will not change our stands. (sic)
“We are going to bring (kidnap) governor el-Rufai into this forest and belittle him the way we do to these people (victims of the train attack).
“You people know me, you declared me wanted to the world. Me too, I have declared you (government officials) wanted, I will kill you,” the terrorist who was carrying an assault weapon said.
The presidency, yesterday, decried terrorists’ activities in the country, but lamented the dilemma in dealing with the situation as military attacks on their locations could result in collateral harm on innocent hostages.
The presidency, which described the “latest version of terror” in the country as a propaganda tool to instill fear in the citizens and force governments to submit to their demands, however, assured of the military’s capacity to neutralise any untoward activities, saying, restraints by the armed forces is to avert collateral damage to the innocent.
“The country’s security and defense forces are not clueless or helpless. They have their plans and ways of doing things, which they will not display in the media.
“It suffices to say that the security forces are not relenting. They are acutely aware of their duties, responsibilities and what the nation expects of them. Whenever they embark upon those actions, they expect that the public should provide them with the needed support,” the presidency said.
The presidency in a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, added that “Terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought by all actors – the military, civilian population and the communication service providers. This is the only way safe havens of terrorists are eliminated in every part of the world.
“To help the nation against ongoing situation, the media must increase their support for the fight against the exploitation of the internet and social media for terrorist purposes.
“The presidency, in the meantime wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate,” the statement said
