Bandits, Boko Haram Now In Alliance — FG

The Federal Government has said preliminary reports on the Abuja-Kaduna train terror attack have revealed the impact of collaboration between the bandits and dislodged Boko Haram terrorists from the North East.

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said this Wednesday while fielding questions from State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Mohammed intervened after the Minister of Defence, retired Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi, was asked to provide information on the perpetrators of the train attack.

He said: “What is happening now is that there is a kind of an unholy handshake between bandits and Boko Haram insurgents. Preliminary reports of what transpired at the Kaduna train attacks shows that there is a kind of collaboration between the bandits and the dislodged Boko Haram terrorists from the northeast. I can tell you very confidently that the Federal Government on the top of this matter.”

The defence minister, in his earlier response to the question, said: “Honestly, I think the security chiefs are working hard to unveil those that are involved, and we will tell you very soon those that are carrying out these attacks. Both Jos and Kaduna, we will come and explain to the public what is really going on and our efforts to ensure that all these activities are stopped once and for all. We are rarely on top of the situation, we are planning hard and we will get it out as soon as possible.”

On what the government was doing following the 72-hour ultimatum by families of victims on train attack, Mohammed said, “I think the Honorable Minister of Defense has already addressed the issues. One, that what the federal government is doing won’t be subject matter of a press conference, because we have lives at stake.

“And that the various arms of security are working night and day to unravel the mystery surrounding the kidnap the attack as a whole, the kidnap people. What I can assure you is that you get the respective arms of government actually engaged as we speak, in getting those, you know, victims released. It’s natural for anybody who is a father or a mother of a kidnap person to be worried and to be concerned.

“But at the level of government, we appreciate that and we are leaving no stone unturned, but we’ll give you specific steps we’re taking I think it will be counter productive and not going to aid or help those who are kidnapped or help you know, the security forces who are tracing and ensuring that there’ll be no repeat of such attacks.”

At least, nine persons died, scores sustained injuries while over 60 were kidnapped when terrorists attacked a passenger train over two weeks ago.