President Muhammadu Buhari has described the attack on the Kaduna-bound train as “callous and a matter of grave concern”.
Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) to the President, Garba Shehu, in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, quoted Buhari as saying this at a meeting with service chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, in the State House, Abuja.
The meeting also had in attendance the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Faruk Yahaya, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Samuel Adebayo, and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
“No one should be allowed to hold the country to ransom,” the President said.
Terrorists attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train on Monday night with explosives and shot at passengers.
At least eight people have been confirmed killed in the attack while many others are still missing, according to the Kaduna State Government.
President Buhari said like most Nigerians, he was deeply pained by the attack, “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.”
“President Buhari has 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 and that this 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,” Shehu said.
Additionally, the President charged the law enforcement chiefs to bring back all passengers kidnapped and ensure that the terrorists are hunted down and made to face justice for their heinous acts.
“President Buhari reiterated his earlier directive that the military should deal ruthlessly with terrorists. He asked them to be more decisive and not spare anyone unlawfully wielding the AK 47 weapon,” Shehu said
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