President Muhammadu Buhari has assured families that efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe return of persons being held by bandits.
The President has also directed security agencies and the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, to provide regular and detailed information to families.
Receiving some FCT residents at the State House on Sallah homage, the President said the government would explore every opportunity to secure the captives, alive and unhurt.
President Buhari urged the railway management to immediately set up a situation room for the co-ordination of the rescue mission and for a minute by minute engagement with the families of the captives.
He said the bandits were only pushing their luck, saying however that their machinations were just for a while before they would finally be crushed.
The President explained that the bandits were using civilians as human shields, thereby making it difficult to confront them directly.
According to the President, bandits and terrorists, unlike professional soldiers, had no respect for rules of engagement, noting that they could resort to harming hostages when attacked.
Describing the rescue operation as a delicate situation that requires wisdom, the President said the primary aim was to free the hostages safely, unharmed and alive.
He urged the masses and community leaders to assist security officials with credible intelligence about the activities or movements of criminal groups to enable crush them for good.
President Buhari urged Nigerians to create a hostile environment for criminals hiding in communities, warning that protecting criminals from exposure, will result in endangering the security of the protectors’ and their communities.
The President emphasised that a stronger synergy between security agencies and communities would make a huge difference in defeating banditry and terrorism in the country.
He allayed the fears that bandits would grow bigger as the threat Boko Haram, assuring that the administration will not allow such a situation to happen.
He explained that his administration had allocated huge resources to improve the capacity of security forces by timely giving them adequate equipment, and improving the welfare of personnel to boost their morale.
The President observed that Abuja, which was overwhelmed by the strikes of terrorists, had now been witnessing remarkable improvements in security.
The President commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammed Bello, for diligently ensuring that the capital city stayed safe and attractive.
BELLO WAKILI