metro
We’re helpless, abducted train passengers’ families lament
Families of the abducted Abuja-Kaduna train passengers on Tuesday lamented that they are helpless since they are not in a position to meet the demands of the bandits who have kept their loved ones in captivity since March 28.
They have therefore called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to personally wade into the matter to ensure the safe return of the abducted passengers.
Leader of the families, under the umbrella of the Relatives of the AK-9 Abuja-Kaduna Train Kidnapped Passengers, Baaba Mohammed, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent.
The Kaduna-Abuja train was attacked on March 28, leading to the death of no fewer than eight persons while several others were kidnapped.
Their abductors, who asked the Federal Government to release some of their children in custody, as well as some of their commanders in exchange for the victims, had released videos of the victims to press home their demands.
In a latest video released by the terrorists, eight of the abducted passengers were sighted.
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Three of the victims who spoke on behalf of others appealed to the Federal Government and other well-meaning Nigerians to ensure they are safely reunited with their families.
Mohammed said the latest video showed that further delay in rescuing the victims could portend danger to the captives.
He said, “We are pleading with the government that time is of essence, we are urging the government to take note of all those things. If you look at the body language of those in the video you saw yesterday (Monday), you will see the need for urgency and I don’t think we have the luxury of time to foot drag.
“The President should directly intervene. He needs to talk to the security operatives to understand that every minute that passes without necessarily taking action is detrimental to the health of these people.
“We are tired and very exhausted too because there is nothing that needs to be done that we have not done. We have met with the CDS, among others. It looks like we have exhausted all the options available to us, the only thing we are left with is to keep calling on God.”
Mohammed stated that the terrorists’ demand had put the families in tight conditions, adding that if they had the means, they would have long met them.
He added, “The negotiation is not what we the family members can deliver. If you look at their demands, the family members can’t go and be looking for their children even if we are able to trace and find them and the terrorists confirm they are the ones, we can’t take them to the terrorists.”
“Otherwise, we would not have reached the position we are. We are yet to reach out to Gunmi. The government has told us that they are in touch with them and they know the process and our main concern is to have our family members back.”
“The issue is if we can help in any way to facilitate this and the government is ready to put us in between to do that, why not? But if you look at it, it is beyond us.”
metro
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that about 200,000 repentant terrorists have so far dropped their arms and surrendered to troops in the North East, noting that the twin strategy of kinetic and non-kinetic operations was responsible for this achievement.
The CDS made this known at the Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission, which began at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the theme of the symposium, ”Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct, and Accountability,” speaks volumes about the deluge of security challenges the armed forces and security agencies are facing.
His words, “All the challenges we are facing today have to do with fairness, equity, justice, and accountability.
“There will not be peace without justice, equity, fairness, and accountability. In our operations, we are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have to a large extent yielded significant successes, and we want to particularly thank the National Security Adviser for his great support in this regard.
“Nigeria is going through so many challenges, and we feel we’re able to address this, and everybody has a sense of belonging. A lot of the security challenges we are having, we are sure, will go down. I want to thank the National Security Advisor for all the support he’s given us, both the kinetic and the non-kinetic.
“We have said it; the kinetic aspect is just less than 30%. The non-kinetic has a lot to play. The non-kinetic, because when you have democracy, people must have the evidence of democracy. As long as it tells people to sleep well and be peaceful, and they are hungry, their children cannot eat, and all this creates more problems.
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“The issue of informants. We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue.
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
metro
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
The spokesperson for the police in Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the death of two robbery suspects in the state.
Mr Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said that the deceased were killed from the bullets shot by their gang members.
According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Edafe explained that the deceased were leading the police surveillance team attached to the Ekpan Division to their hideout when they were caught during a shoot-out.
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“The suspects were arrested at Effurun roundabout with a bag containing 57 live cartridges and other items. They were leading the surveillance team to their hideout at Warri/Sapele road when their gang members, on sighting the vehicle of the police team, engaged them in a shootout.During the gun duel, the arrested suspects that were leading the police team were fatally wounded by the gun shot of their colleagues. The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment,” he said.
Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the hoodlums hideout included: one English pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges.
Others were: six iPhones, Smart phones and a Rolex wrist watch.
He said that the command had intensified manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang.
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
(NAN)
metro
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