‘Security forces unrelenting’ — presidency reacts to flogging of abducted passengers

Security personnel are still committed, according to the presidency, to ensuring the safe return of the March train passengers.

On March 28, gunmen attacked a train headed for Kaduna, killing a number of passengers while kidnapping others.

While dozens of the kidnapped passengers have still not been released, some of them have.

Some of the prisoners were seen being spanked in a video that surfaced over the weekend as the passengers pleaded with the authorities and the international community to save them.

President Muhammadu Buhari has gone above and beyond to support security personnel, according to presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, who responded to the video in a statement on Sunday. He expects results.

He also said the use of violence by ‘terrorists” isn’t new, adding that security agencies are on top of the situation.

“Terrorist activity using propaganda and the use of violence to force governments to accept or submit to political demands is not new all over world,” the statement reads.

‘The country’s security and defence forces are not clueless or helpless. They have their plans and ways of doing things which they will not display in the media.

“The dilemmas in dealing with the specific case of train terrorists are manifold: punitive action like the popular call for carpet bombing of the known locations may assuage the desire of an angry public for revenge, but what about the hostages? They have committed no offence. All they did was to board a train.

“It suffices to say that the security forces are not relenting. They are acutely aware of their duties, responsibilities and what the nation expects of them. Whenever they embark upon those actions, they expect that the public should provide them with the needed support.

“Terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought by all actors – the military, the civilian population and the communication service providers. This is the only way safe havens of terrorists are eliminated in every part of the world.

“To help the nation against ongoing situation, the media must increase their support for the fight against the exploitation of the internet and social media for terrorist purposes.

“The Presidency, in the meantime, wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate.”