Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Tuesday, lambasted the Federal Government and the security agencies over their collective failure to secure the release of over 100 kidnapped victims of a Kaduna-Abuja train attacked by terrorists on March 28, 2022.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, reminded the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari that its primary duty is the protection of the life and property of citizens, according to Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), which states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government…”
However, the group said it was utterly disappointing that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and a retired general in the person of the President has failed to secure Nigerians let alone rescue those abducted by kidnappers.
Recall that terrorists reportedly working with Boko Haram fighters had on March 28 at Katari, Kaduna State, attacked the train which was heading for Kaduna from Abuja fully loaded with passengers.
After the attack, security agencies reported that eight bodies were recovered from the scene of the dastardly attack and 26 persons were injured.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation said it was unable to establish contact with 163 passengers and seven crew members who boarded the train.
On Monday, multiple sources explained that the terrorists in their ongoing negotiations with the Federal Government were demanding prisoners’ exchange.
The gang had last week released one of their hostages, the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan whose family members reportedly paid a ransom of N100 million after his house in Abuja was auctioned hurriedly, due to his age. In a video showing the victim in their midst, the gunmen said the government knew what they wanted and threatened to kill the remaining hostages if their demands were not met.
On Sunday, the terrorists released another video where some of the captives were seen calling on the government to come to their rescue.
Over 100 passengers are said to be in the den of the terrorists while the security agencies are yet to secure their release two weeks after.
Reacting, HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “It is disappointing that the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari has persistently failed in its cardinal duty which is the protection of the life and property of citizens.
“Nigerians, elated that a general was mounting the saddle in 2015, are utterly dismayed that the security situation of the country had gone from bad to worse, with the abduction and killing of thousands of innocent Nigerians by marauders who are simply left to roam freely unleashing violence on innocent Nigerians.
“It is shameful that the kidnapped victims of Kaduna-Abuja train attack are still not rescued by the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies who have equally failed at their responsibilities like their Commander-in-Chief.
“HURIWA demands quick actions by the government and security agencies to free all hostages languishing in the different camps of terrorists without any further waste if time. A government that has no capacity to protect lives and property of the citizens is certainly an administration that lacks the legitimacy to lay claim to being a government elected by the people and in the enlightened interest of Nigeria, the best thing to happen is for the failed President to throw in the towel and allow a much more competent leader to take over for the remaining few months so as to sufficiently confron the growing security threats and put Nigeria in a good mood for the next general election in few months time”.
Aprll 11, 2022
Emmanuel Onwubiko
National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).
