Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state has claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari was not aware of the threats by terrorists to kidnap him (Buhari).
Bandits had in a viral video on Sunday, July 24, 2022, released a viral video threatening to capture President Buhari and Governor el-Rufai after they flogged 43 victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Governor el-Rufai while speaking on a Radio Programme Wednesday night said; “I also heard about a video where they threatened to abduct Buhari and myself. I have been warned to be careful, including my family too.
“This is why I met with the president on Sunday and told him about these problems. I also told him about the video because up to that day, he was not even aware. I told him and the following day, Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle also confirmed to him that he saw the video too, so as to take action.”
According to him, the President assured him that he met with the service chiefs 3-4 days before the meeting and that he gave them a clear directive to have a comprehensive military operation to deal with those people.
He added that “we hope, God willing, the soldiers and the police that were given the directives will hasten up to finish the job. We don’t have to wait until they (terrorists) strike before we respond.
“They (soldiers) must go after them wherever they are to deal with them. The truth is we are worried about the security situation, but we hope the federal government will do the right thing.”
Governor el-Rufai had advised the federal government to carpet-bomb forests serving as an abode for bandits to wipe them out “once and for all”.
Kaduna is one of the northern states with numerous reports of bandits attacks and killings.
Meanwhile, the federal government (FG) has belittled the threat issued by the Abuja-Kaduna train terrorists.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja described the threat as laughable propaganda.
Mohammed said: “Most of the questions you asked have to do with the security situation. I want to assure you that the President is aware of all these and as a matter of fact, I think tomorrow, there’s going to be another Security Council meeting.
“So, it’s not a matter the President is taking lightly and like I’ll always, say some of the measures we’re going to take are not measures that you can discuss openly here, but we’re as concerned as you are, we’re not going to abandon our responsibility.
“As to those who have issued threats to Mr President, I think it’s more of propaganda than anything. It’s laughable.
“I want to reassure you that the government is up to the task of ensuring security. Security challenges will come anywhere in the world, the important thing is the fact that you do not lose focus and you continue to work assiduously to overcome it. I want to assure you we are going to overcome.”