The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, says there was sufficient intel indicating a planned attack on the train plying the Abuja-Kaduna railway corridor but Nigerian security agencies failed to act on it.
The forum maintained that all accusing fingers should be pointed at President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, adding that it should be held responsible for the bandits’ attack on a Kaduna-bound train.
AYCF National President, Yerima Shettima said the refusal of the security agencies to act on the speculation of an imminent attack on the train 48 hours before the bandits struck meant the security operatives have been deeply compromised.
According to Shettima: “The Nigerian government should be held responsible because the security and welfare of Nigerians are its responsibility. However, on this matter, it relates more to the Federal Government.
“The rail issue is purely a Federal Government’s affairs; it’s expected that before the Federal Government would have allowed the train to start operations, the security of every passenger should have been put into consideration” Shettima told Dailypost in an interview.
He averred that the government should have been more proactive and put in place preemptive measure to thwart attacks, seeing that there had been prior attempts to attacks on the train.
“Before the incident, ordinary people, not security agents, were privy to information that there were likely to be an attack. There was rumour all-around 48 hours to that attack. So, how can the government tell us that they are not aware of this attack? It means the security agencies have been compromised.
“So, we can’t look at the security agencies alone without linking it to the Federal Government because they must take responsibility for this carelessness. This attack must not be allowed to happen again because this alone is a national disaster.
“No country would accept this; so for me, the Federal government should take responsibility as they didn’t manage the situation well.
Shettima added that those responsible for the attacks must be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.
