SIR: Terrorists who bombed and kidnapped passengers aboard the Abuja-Kaduna train have issued a new threat. The terrorists in a short video clip released were seen flogging the helpless train abductees and issuing threats to kidnap the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai and President Muhammadu Buhari. The presidency has described the threat as laughable and mere propaganda. However, for Nigerians who have continued to witness frequent attacks by the bandits, their threat should not be seen as propaganda to be treated with kids gloves.
Several examples abound which prove that the successes from their nefarious activities have emboldened them in recent times. Firstly, the bandits ambushed the president’s advance team in Dutsenma, Katsina State and killed two of his security officers. They attacked Kuje Correctional Centre and freed hardened criminals including members of dreaded Boko Haram. The latest attack on Guards’ Brigade which led to the death of two soldiers who responded to distress call from Nigerian Law School, Bwari, an outskirt of Abuja, has reinforced their audacity and seriousness to attack more targets.
Last year, Governor Sani Bello of Niger State raised an alarm about the infiltration of Boko Haram in his state. The governor stated that the murderous group were a few kilometres away from the nation’s capital. The statement by the governor was meant to put to rest the rumours of their likely presence in Abuja. If terrorists could be so daring as to carry out such coordinated attacks in strategic locations and got away with their destructive actions, any threat from them should constitute a source of worry for Nigerians.
Already, the Kaduna-Abuja road has become no go area. The train services which serve as alternative to Nigerians have been severally attacked. Even our airports are no longer safe.
Instead of describing their threat to kidnap our president as empty, the government should act fast to thwart their plans. The terrorists will continue to attack more places unless their evils plans are exposed. They need to be made to succumb to the superior fire of our security men. The current war against terrorism in the country has failed to produce tangible results. There is the need for government to re-evaluate its strategies and come up with workable solutions.
Let government find out whether there is correlation between banditry and illegal mining in Zamfara and other states in the Northwest. Disturbingly, it seems the bulk of ransoms paid to the kidnappers usually ended up in the pockets of their sponsors as whenever these kidnappers are apprehended, they always looked famished and dejected. This has proved that they are being armed, funded and controlled by conflict merchants. Through effective intelligence gathering, government can identify their sponsors, arrest and prosecute them according to the laws of the land.
There is the need for government to embrace technology in its war against terrorism. With drones and other technology-based weapons, the hidden places of these criminals could be spotted and bombed. This is 21st century. We don’t need to stick to analogue methods to fight asymmetric war against terrorism. The country should go digital.
- Ibrahim Mustapha,
Pambegua, Kaduna State.