NEWS
Train Attack: Buhari receives Victims’ Families, Assures Safe return of Abductees
President Muhammadu Buhari says the Federal Government is doing everything within its powers to ensure the safe return of the remaining abducted passengers of ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train.
Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s media aide, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said Buhari gave the assurance when he met with representatives of victims of Kaduna train abduction in Abuja on Thursday.
He said since the “terrible and cowardly attack by the criminal elements” on March 28, the nation had joined them to endure a period of difficulty and emotional pains.
The president, therefore, condoled with the families of the victims and those who lost their loved ones.
He told representatives of the families that in the immediate aftermath of the incident several actions had been taken by government to bring succour to the affected families and to prevent a recurrence in the country.
He also explained his reason for discarding the use of lethal military force in extracting the remaining abductees.
‘‘I have been informed that at last count, there remain about 31 people in the hands of the kidnappers, and our determination is to work towards returning these 31 people to their families.
‘‘It is understandable that emotions typically run high, we have received several suggestions about the deployment of lethal military force in extracting those still being held in captivity.
‘‘This option has indeed been considered and evaluated.
‘‘However, the condition to guarantee a successful outcome and minimise potential collateral damage could not be assured and therefore that course of action had to be reluctantly discarded.
”My primary concern is to get everyone released safe and unhurt,’’ he said.
On his recent instruction to security and law enforcement agencies to bring an end to inhumane action against innocent Nigerians, the Buhari expressed delight, saying:
‘‘Judging by the available reports to me and news that have begun emerging in the last few days, I will say they have heard this instruction and are responding appropriately.
‘‘In the past couple of days, you must have heard about the number of terrorists neutralised by the military, and number of hostages freed. These efforts will not stop or reduce.
‘‘We must take the fight to the terrorists and demonstrate that there is no hiding place for them within the borders of our country.
‘‘Each one of them will be hunted, and pursued and spoken to in the language that they understand,’’ he stated.
The president also used the occasion to commend the bravery and gallant actions taken by members of the Police Force who were onboard the train on that fateful day.
‘‘It is clear that their actions saved many lives and by making the ultimate sacrifice, they must be recognised for their bravery,’’ he said.
Buhari added that he had never doubted the ability or confidence of those who had presented themselves to defend the country and the Kaduna train incident had reinforced the belief and faith of the nation in this special group of Nigerians.
‘‘I also would like to use this opportunity to say that we are cognizant of events that have unsettled our citizens in various parts of our nation and in the Capital.
‘‘I would like to comfort those who were traumatised by these tragic events and pledge that our response is to protect all Nigerians wherever they are.
‘‘My dear country men and women, we thank God that none of the released prisoners died due to the severe trauma they passed through in the hands of the terrorists,’’ he maintained.
This, according to him, has shown that the efforts of government in securing their release were not in vain as government continues to do its best to secure the release of the remaining abductees.
He assured that government would continue to ensure the overall security of all citizens in the country.
The Minister of Transportation, Mr Jaji Sambo, said in the first week of his resumption in the ministry, he met with the relatives of the victims of the Kaduna train attack.
According to him, he updated them of all the efforts the government is making to ensure safe return of their loved ones.
He described the audience with the President as a manifestation of the efforts by this administration to secure the release of all captives and proof that ‘‘government is not resting on its oars’’.
A representative of the victims of the train abduction, Alhaji Sabiu Mohammed, however appealed to the federal government to assist the families in the release of their remaining loved ones still in captivity.
‘‘Please, we want to see our loved ones and many have found themselves in very critical situations.
“We do not have the money that they (kidnappers) are demanding.
“Please, Mr President, we know you are doing your best…please, please we want to see our loved ones,’’ he said. (NAN)
Five men have been arrested in Germany suspected of being involved in a plot to drive a vehicle into people at a Christmas market.
Three Moroccans, an Egyptian and a Syrian were detained on Friday over the plan to target a market in the southern Bavarian state. Authorities said they suspected an “Islamist motive”.
Prosecutors said the Egyptian – a 56-year-old – was alleged to have “called for a vehicle attack… with the aim of killing or injuring as many people as possible”.
The Moroccans allegedly agreed to carry out the attack.Officials in Germany have been on high alert after previous attacks at Christmas markets, including in Magdeburg last December that killed six people.
Authorities did not say when the planned attack was supposed to take place or which market was the target, though said they believed it to be one in the Dingolfing-Landau area, north east of Munich.
German newspaper Bild reported the Egyptian man was an imam at a mosque in the area.
Police said the Moroccan men – aged 30, 28 and 22 – were arrested accused of having agreed to commit murder, while the Syrian man, a 37-year-old, was accused of encouraging the suspects “in their decision to commit the crime”.
The five suspects appeared before a magistrate on Saturday and remain in custody.
Joachim Herrmann, Bavaria’s state interior minister, told Bild the “excellent cooperation between our security services” had helped to prevent “a potentially Islamist-motivated attack”.
Christmas markets are popular festive attractions throughout Germany, frequently attracting large crowds and significant tourism.
Security at events has been increased in recent years, since an attack in Berlin in 2016 when a man drove a lorry into a market crowd, killing 12 people.
No fewer than 20,000 applicants nationwide are participating in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Zonal General Aptitude Test for the 2025 Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 46 recruitment exercise.
The Director, Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, in a statement on Sunday, said the aptitude test began on Saturday across the country.
Ejodame, who described the test as a key stage of the recruitment process, said, it was being conducted simultaneously at 15 zonal centres located in Sokoto, Minna, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Maiduguri, Yola, Makurdi, Jos, Ilorin, Ipetu-Ijesa, Enugu, Benin, Port Harcourt and Ikeja.
He said the nationwide spread of the centres reflected NAF’s commitment to inclusiveness, equal opportunity and a transparent, merit-based recruitment system that allows qualified Nigerians from all parts of the country to compete fairly.
According to him, the large turnout underscores the sustained confidence of Nigerian youths in the Air Force as a disciplined, professional and patriotic institution, as well as its resolve to attract capable, motivated and resilient personnel to strengthen national defence and internal security operations.
Speaking on the exercise, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said the recruitment process was guided by fairness, integrity and strict adherence to established standards.
According to CAS, the NAF remains firmly committed to recruiting the best candidates by merit, “as the quality of our personnel is fundamental to operational effectiveness and the successful execution of our constitutional mandate.”
He added that the aptitude test was a critical step toward building a motivated and mission-ready force, assuring Nigerians of the NAF’s continued support to internal security operations and the protection of lives and property.
A transportation expert and elder statesman, Chief Chris Chigboh, has commended Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State for the remarkable improvements witnessed in security and infrastructure.
Chigboh, a former Secretary of Transportation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stated this in an interview on Sunday in Abuja.
He spoke shortly after returning from Enugu, where he said he personally observed the transformation programmes being implemented by the Mbah administration.
According to him, the developmental strides recorded in the state in the last two years indicate that Enugu is on course to surpass the governor’s target of building a 30-billion-dollar economy by 2031.
“What I saw in Enugu beats my imagination, especially when compared with the state’s lean receipts from the federation account.
“The security operation control centre is second to none. The recent addition of drones and other security infrastructure will help flush out terrorists and criminal elements from the state.
“With these measures, citizens are set to enjoy a crime-free Yuletide and New Year celebrations. The latest transportation infrastructure will also ease movement of goods and services across the state,” he said.
Chigboh said terrorism and banditry had negatively affected development plans in many parts of the country, leaving citizens in fear and deepening economic hardship.
He expressed satisfaction with the recent deployment of surveillance drones in a late-night operation around the Opi–Nsukka/Ugwogo–Nike forest, a notorious kidnappers’ hideout, noting that the operation led to the evacuation of bandits from the area.
“With the frontal attacks on criminals in Enugu, the state will attain greater economic prosperity in the near future,” he added.
The state government recently added two surveillance drones and 10 security vehicles to its security fleet. It also procured 200 BRT buses and several electric vehicles for commercial transportation.
Chigboh, who also served as Secretary of Area Councils in the FCT, commended the cleanliness of Enugu metropolis and the rollout of smart schools across political wards in the state.
He described the expansion of the capital city through new estates on its fringes as a creative move to accommodate current and future population growth.
The elder statesman also lauded the introduction of electric vehicles for public transportation and urged the governor to complement the initiative with a rail network.
The rail line, he said, would link all local government areas, to boost commerce and facilitate the movement of food from rural communities to major markets.
“Mbah can partner with the Federal Government to revive portions of the Eastern railway corridor by putting the abandoned Agbani–Emene transit line to use.
“This will significantly improve travel and haulage within Coal City,” he said.
Chigboh, who was involved in the design and implementation of the Abuja Master Plan, noted that the harmonious relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government in Enugu was responsible for the peace and coordinated development currently witnessed.
He described Mbah’s socio economic reforms as unprecedented in the history of the state and called on residents to support government initiatives, especially in the area of security, to sustain Enugu’s status as the safest state in the South-East.
He urged chairmen of the 17 local government areas of the state to emulate the governor by extending development efforts to rural communities.
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