President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate conclusion of all the processes for the immediate implementation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution for the Abuja to Kaduna railway line.
Also, President Buhari has instructed the military and other security agencies to immediately swing to action by hunting down the terrorists immediately, describing the attack by terrorists on a train in Kaduna State as a matter of grave concern
Buhari specifically told the service chiefs and other heads of security outfits to immediately hunt down the terrorists
He also directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation management to speedily repair the damaged lines and resume normal service without delay while the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution should also be extended to Lagos to Ibadan railway line.
Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Spokesman in a statement, said that Buhari gave these directives after receiving briefs from the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Tuesday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President issued the instructions after being briefed by the service chiefs and other heads of security agencies, on the findings from the site of the attack.
-He asked them to be more decisive and not spare anyone unlawfully wielding the AK 47 weapon.
“No one should be allowed to hold the country to ransom,” said the President.
Buhari strongly condemned the bombing of the passenger train, describing it as a “matter of grave concern.”
According to the President: “Like most Nigerians, I am deeply pained by its occurrence, the second of its type, which has resulted in the death of a yet to be determined number of passengers and others who suffered injuries.
“The attack on the train, a safe means of transport to many, is callous; and our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers for the injured.”
Those at the briefing meeting were Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, who led the service chiefs, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Faruk Yahaya; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao; as well as Major General Samuel Adebayo, the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Others at the briefing were the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
The president commended the Law Enforcement agencies for their prompt response and emergency personnel who were responsible for the evacuation and treatment of the injured persons.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen, Irabor, who spoke with State House correspondents after the closed door meeting with the president, explained the purpose of their visit to the president.
“We have come to brief the President regarding the unfortunate incident of yesterday, where some criminals, bandits had gone to lay improvised explosive devices on the rail tracks.
“And, a passenger train was demobilised and seven Nigerians were killed, 29 others wounded and some were kidnapped and we are yet to establish the exact number.
“So, we went to the scene this morning, inspected the entire area and gave out instructions on what is to be done and we have come to brief the President on this development,” he said.
According to Irabor, security agencies will build on the lessons they have learnt from the latest incident.
He, therefore, assured Nigerians that the military and other security agencies would not rest on their oars until normalcy is restored.
“The challenge of insecurity is a constant one and so the defence and security agencies need to be on their toes 24/7.
“This is unfortunate and we believe that the lessons out of this are what we need to build upon going forward.
“I can perhaps use this opportunity and reassure the nation that based on the president’s directive, we will take every necessary action, not just to apprehend those behind this dastardly act are not just apprehended but for them to also face justice.
“Going forward, certainly there will be greater security for the nation and I will like to urge all Nigerians to support the military”, he said.