Armed bandits
operating along Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highways have kidnapped 87 passengers
yesterday.
An official of NURTW told
PRNigeria that most of the kidnapped victims were passengers travelling between
North and Southern parts of the country.
The
NURTW official said: “over 15 vehicles including long trucks, buses and
commercial cars were intercepted by the armed bandits who selected their
victims from their look and dressing and herded them into the bush.
“We
learn that the kidnappers have started communicating and negotiating with the
families of their victims, demanding for ransoms in millions of Naira.
“A
man and a woman were killed today while four additional passengers were also
kidnapped.
“As
an official of NURTW we have warned our members to henceforth stop plying
the route until there is adequate security in the area.
Meanwhile,
the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai speaking when he
flagged-off the 2 Battalion Forward Operation Base (FOB) at the Birnin-Gwari
axis of Kaduna state, charged troops to go after the bandits and wipe them out.
The
Army Chief said, “We are no longer going to adopt the defensive approach, it
must be offensive. Since the battle has been brought to you, you must take it
back and crush them wherever they are.
“The
killings must stop, the wanton destructions of properties must stop, not only
within Kaduna state but across the country.
“In
the next two, three weeks, there must be a very resounding result that will
bring these criminals to their kneels finally.
“They
are not coming from the moon, or coming from outer space, they are within this
territory. I don’t know why you cannot go to where they are and get them fished
out.
“Am
happy with the initiative of the General Officer Commanding 1 Division and all
the commanders for the new approach and I want to see a decisive result at the
end of this operation.
“The
commanders have briefed me thoroughly of your challenges and be rest assured we
have already started addressing some of these challenges.
“We
must respond decisively and commanders must be personally held responsible for
any lapse, they must decide and take appropriate action, and anything outside
that, they must be held responsible.
“The
next deployment must commence immediately. Other areas of logistic support,
your welfare, be rest assured we will do our best to provide for you.”
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