FG says bandits, boko haram now work together

The Abuja-Kaduna train attack has led to a conclusion by the federal government that the operation was possible due to collusion between bandits and “dislodged” Boko Haram.

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, posited this after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday April 12.

He answered the question directed to Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Rtd), who is the Minister of Defence, concerning the train attack.

His statement, “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 continued that, “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.”

Speaking on steps the government was taking since the 72-hour ultimatum given by families of victims on the 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.”