the Governor of Kaduna StateNasir El Rufai admitted on Wednesday that the Nigerian authorities know the camps, the identities and listen to the conversations of the armed groups that are terrorizing large swaths of the northwestern region.
The governor, who was speaking after some bandits, ambushed and attacked a train bound for Kaduna to Abuja on Monday night.
At least eight people were killed during the attack that lasted nearly two hours. Several passengers suffered gunshot wounds, while an undetermined number of people were kidnapped by the gunmen.
El-Rufai was speaking at an event attended by Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi to update Nigerians on what the government was doing to stem the wave of banditry in the state after Monday’s deadly attack.
The governor explained why the military has not bombed the bandits despite knowing their whereabouts and listening to their conversations.
“We know where their camps are. We know your camps, we have the maps; we know everything. We have their phone numbers and sometimes we listen to their conversation. But it has to be done in all five states,” he said.
The governor explained that the military was originally reluctant to bomb bandit camps to avoid collateral civilian damage, but added that since a Nigerian court declared them terrorists, the rule of engagement has changed.
“This is war,” he said.
“We know what they (terrorists) are planning. We get the reports. The problem is that the agencies take action. Don’t wait until they attack before responding. The Army should go after their enclaves to finish them off. Let the Air Force bomb them,” he said.
A visibly angry Mr. El Rufai lamented that the SSS has informers everywhere who get information for the service, but such attacks still happen.
I warned NRC against overnight shuttle service.
El-Rufai then said the attack could have been prevented if the Nigerian Railways Corporation had heeded his warning to end overnight transfers.
ALSO READ: How Buhari manager ignored signs of imminent attack on Abuja-Kaduna train and failed to protect passengers
He said the state security council wrote twice to the NRC about suspending overnight shuttle service, but the NRC did not listen.
NRC train
The last train from Kaduna to Abuja should leave at 4 pm to reach Abuja in daylight, he said.
“If something happens, the response time will be fast, maybe 30 minutes. When something happens, the response time will be faster during the day,” she said.
NRC managing director Fidet Okhiria confirmed that the Kaduna state government warned the corporation. He told the Daily Trust that if the corporation stops the overnight shuttle service; it means that the bandits have won against the country.
“They wrote to us that they suspected they wanted to attack the train, but that was in December/January. But we looked at it and said that if there is something like that, that they find a solution and stopping the train is not the solution.
And we do not operate night trains. The last train leaves in the afternoon. We believe that if we stop the trains from running, it means that the terrorists have won.”