President Muhammadu Buhari has assured families of the abducted Abuja-Kaduna-bound train passengers that efforts were ongoing to ensure they regain freedom from bandits’ captivity.

This is just as the President directed security agencies and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to provide more regular and detailed information to the families of the abducted victims.

Buhari said this while receiving some residents of the Federal Capital Territory at the State House on Monday.

Since the abduction of the train passengers on March 28, 2022, the terrorists have released videos and pictures showing the abductees in captivity.

While the kidnapped victims and their families have called on the Federal Government to ensure the freedom of the abductees, the gunmen threatened to kill the abducted train passengers if the government did not meet their demands.

It was gathered that the assailants insisted that they were not after a ransom, but an exchange of the abducted passengers with their commanders who are allegedly in government custody.

However, President Buhari, on Monday, said the Federal Government would explore every opportunity to secure the kidnapped train passengers are rescued alive and unhurt.

He said: “As we celebrate this occasion with joy amidst friends and family members, we are fully conscious of the fact that many families in our country are in a state of fear and anxiety on account of the many captives held by terrorists against their will, including those taken away after the tragic bombing of the Abuja-Kaduna train.

“I have directed security agencies to ensure quick and safe recovery of all victims of kidnapping. I urge the railway management to immediately set up a situation room for the coordination of the rescue mission and for a minute-by-minute engagement with the families of the captives.

“This should ease their pain and anxiety as we push the military to find a safe return to their families. My aim is to see all those in captivity safely rescued.

“Let me assure Nigerians that the bandits are just pushing their luck, but this is only for a while before they are finally crushed. They are using civilians as human shields, thereby making it difficult to confront them directly,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina

According to President Buhari, bandits and terrorists, unlike professional soldiers, don’t respect the rules of engagement and could resort to harming hostages when attacked.

“They don’t care about killing their hostages if they come under attack. It’s a delicate situation that requires wisdom, caution, and also patience. Any rescue operation that results in the death of any hostage cannot be deemed a success.

“The government doesn’t want this kind of tragic outcome. It’s a complex situation that demands proper handling. The primary objective of any rescue operation is to free the hostages safely, unharmed, and alive.

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“Let me make it clear, however, that defeating the terrorists and bandits requires more than weapons; we also need human intelligence which is necessary to frustrate terrorist plans. The people and community leaders should help our security officials with information about the activities or movements of criminal groups,” he added.

The President further urged Nigerians to create a hostile environment for criminals hiding in communities, admonishing that “by protecting criminals from exposure, you are endangering your own security and the security of your own community. No criminal can thrive in an environment where he faces the risks of exposure by the people.”

Buhari said a stronger synergy between security agencies and communities will make a huge difference in defeating banditry and terrorism in the country.

He, however, allayed fears that bandits will grow to another big challenge as faced by the Boko Haram threat, assuring that his administration would not allow that to happen.

The President said: “This administration has allocated huge resources to improve the capacity of our security forces by timely giving them adequate equipment and improving the welfare of personnel to boost their morale.

“Abuja has witnessed remarkable improvements in terms of security. In the past terrorists had made it almost impossible to conduct our normal lives. Road barricades had overrun the capital city and people had to pray in fear because of the anxiety of terrorist attacks. No place in FCT was beyond the terrorist. Not the United Nations building, nor the Police Headquarters.

“But today, the situation is no longer so. We have significantly weakened and crippled the capabilities of the Boko Haram terrorists so much that they no longer have the ability to seize, and occupy any Nigerian territory without being repelled by our gallant troops.

“Of course, we can’t say that the terrorists are one hundred percent destroyed, but we have destroyed their ability to seize our territory. This improvement in terms of significantly weakening the enemy is necessary for finally defeating them. The rate at which the terrorists are giving up their weapons and surrendering to our troops is a significant and welcome development.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was also present, expressed his gratitude to the President on behalf of all the invited guests for hosting the Sallah homage.

On his part, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Musa Bello, expressed his gratitude to God Almighty and to President Buhari for the opportunity to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr at the State House.

The Star