PRESS STATEMENT ON KADUNA TRAIN ATTACK

 By Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (CFR, Mutawallen Sokoto)

For more than two hours on Monday evening the entire nation was shocked and traumatized as the story of over 900 passengers besieged and trapped on an Abuja bound train filtered out slowly.

Later the full picture came out. It was that terrorists heavily armed in their hundreds had waylaid the train and proceeded to bomb the engine room. Simultaneously, they shot sporadically wounding and killing hapless citizens. A number of those entrapped are still missing while scores are dead and some mortally wounded. This was one of many such attacks within hours in and around Kaduna city.

For the umpteenth time this single dastardly act, like its similitude, is not only abominable, evil and callous, but also a reflection of the systemic failure that has characterized the misgovernance of the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the past few years.

It is very disheartening that such carnage and brigandage, seen only in films and fictions, played out in reality under the watch of a government given popular mandate by the people.

With this incident, reminiscent of many like it, words are not enough to assuage the trepidation and assault visited on the psyche of the victims and other Nigerians. The government must own up to its dereliction of duties and obligations by apologizing to the citizens.

It must also shed its lethargy and act swiftly by deploying technology, motivating an ill-equipped security outfits and shortening the time of response to crimes and criminalities of the magnitude witnessed, severally in Kaduna and many parts of the country, including Sokoto State in the last few days.

While one must commend the gallantry of the security operatives, that responded belatedly out of patriotism and concern, the government and people of Sokoto state extend their condolences to the people and government of Kaduna state.

We also share in the debilitating grief of the unfortunate victims and their relatives. 

We pray for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives; and, wish those wounded and hospitalized quick recovery.