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| President Muhammadu Buhari |
In a swift response to the bombing of Kaduna-Abuja train on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari has called an emergency meeting of the security chiefs and directed the “immediate conclusion” of the implementation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution for the Abuja-Kaduna rail line.
The president also called for the armed forces to “deal ruthlessly” with terrorists, urging them not to spare anyone unlawfully wielding the AK 47 weapon.
With a track record of promises and threats that have obviously amounted to little in curbing the activities of these bandits, it’s unclear if this attack on the Abuja-Kaduna rail will spur a need for vigour in the presidency and security operatives and prove a watershed moment in the fight against insecurity.
Many Nigerians will hope that the latest meeting with service chiefs will yield the renewed resolve needed to turn around the country’s security situation but the timeline of activities from the government shows that might be too much optimism.
On Monday night, a daring gang of bandits ambushed a moving train while it was a few minutes away from the Kaduna station.
According to Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said 362 passengers boarded the train and eight of them have been confirmed dead.
Victims who survived the attack said “the terrorists were moving about in the train” while adding that “they were many; they looked to be between the ages of 18 and 20.”