El-Rufai told President Muhammadu Buhari that terrorists were consolidating their grip on communities in Kaduna with a “parallel” government and “permanent
Such attacks included the UN building bombing of August 2011 and the kidnap of some foreigners. According to the sources, Ansaru pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, AQIM, in 2020, and is responsible for many of the high-profile abductions as well as armed attacks on the police in Kaduna State.
He said the terrorists had advanced in their plans to make Kaduna Forest areas their “permanent operational base” for the North-west region.” Condoling with the families of the victims and those who lost their loved ones, the president, in a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said since the “terrible and cowardly attack by the criminal elements” on March 28, 2022, the nation had joined them to endure a period of difficulty and emotional pains.
‘‘It is understandable that emotions typically run high. We have received several suggestions about the deployment of lethal military force in extracting those still being held in captivity. This option has indeed been considered and evaluated. The president also used the occasion to commend the bravery and gallant actions taken by members of the Police Force who were onboard the train on that fateful day.
‘‘I would like to comfort those who were traumatised by these tragic events and pledge that our response is to protect all Nigerians wherever they are. A representative of the victims of the train abduction, Alhaji Sabiu Mohammed, appealed to the federal government to assist in releasing the remaining captives.
He said his ministry was coordinating the next phase of terrorism-related trials in collaboration with the federal high court, the Legal Aid Council, and the Defence Headquarters.The Defence Headquarters , Abuja, has said a combined team of military and Directorate of State Services operatives have arrested two more Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists behind the attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State on 5 June 2022.
According to the statement, “They were arrested through a combined operation by military and DSS personnel at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on 1 August 2022. Gen Akpor added that the leadership of the military, Nigeria Police, DSS and other security agencies were committed to working in synergy to enthrone peace and security all over the country.Similarly, Defence Headquarters has announced that 1,755 terrorists have surrendered, with troops killing 29 terrorists, arresting 55 and rescuing 52 civilians in the Northeast.
In a similar vein, the air component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted air strikes on 3 August 2022 at Degbawa near Mandara Mountains in Gwoza local government area of Borno State. In the North West, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI on routine patrol arrested five suspected foreign bandits named, Muritala Wada, Saminu Sani, Shamisu Adamu, Salisu Saadu and Usman Ibrahim at Jibia in Jibia local government area of Katsina State.
Items recovered during the operation include one AK47 rifle, one locally made pistol, nine rounds of 7.62mm NATO, five mobile phones, one axe, two machetes among others.