Who wants to kidnap our president?

Terrorists who attacked, bombed and kidnapped passengers on Abuja-Kaduna train have issued a new threat. The terrorists in a short video clip have threatened to kidnap the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai and President Muhammadu Buhari. The presidency has described the threat as laughable and a mere propaganda. However, for Nigerians who have continued to […]

Terrorists who attacked, bombed and kidnapped passengers on Abuja-Kaduna train have issued a new threat. The terrorists in a short video clip have threatened to kidnap the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai and President Muhammadu Buhari. The presidency has described the threat as laughable and a mere propaganda.

However, for Nigerians who have continued to witness frequent attacks by bandits or kidnappers, the threat should not be seen as propaganda or treated with kid gloves. There are many incidences which prove these criminals’ nefarious activities as emboldened in recent times. Firstly, the bandits ambushed the president’s advance team, they attacked Kuje Correctional Centre and freed hardened criminals including members of the Boko Haram. The latest attack on the Guards Brigade which led to the death of two soldiers who responded to distress call from Law School Bwari on the outskirts of Abuja, buttressed their audacity. 

The dangerous activities of bandits in Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states which border the FCT have made it unsafe and vulnerable. There have been a spike in  abductions in FCT communities by suspected bandits. If terrorists could be so daring to carry out such coordinated attacks in strategic locations and get away with their destructive actions, any threat from them should be a source of worry to Nigerians.

Already, the Kaduna-Abuja road has become a no go area. The train services which serve as alternative to Nigerians have been severally attacked. Even our airports are no longer safe. Many Nigerians have expressed fears that the criminals want to take over the nation’s capital.

The terrorists will attack more places unless their evil plans are foiled. They need to be made to succumb to the superiority of our security men.

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 North West.

There is the need for government to embrace technology in its war against terrorism. With drones and other technologically based weapons, the hidden places of these criminals could be spotted and bombed. In the 21st Century, we should go beyond  analog or asymmetric war against terrorism. The country should rather go digital.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State