By Derrick Bangura

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the expression of frustration over the security situation and threats by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to invite foreign mercenaries in the fight against terrorists was a further confirmation and admission of the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in which he is a key player.
The PDP maintained that El-Rufai could not distance himself from those fuelling and aiding insecurity in the country.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, PDP said the alarming insecurity in Nigeria that had led to the killing and maiming of tens of thousands of Nigerians since APC took office in 2015, was the result of the actions and comments by APC leaders and government officials, who encouraged acts of terrorism in the name of politics.
PDP said Nigerians could still recall how in July 2021, El-Rufai, when asked why the federal government was lethargic in going after bandits, stated that the terrorists were collections of independent criminals for whom banditry was a business.
“Nigerians can also recall how ahead of the 2019 general election, Governor El-Rufai threatened that, ‘those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the persons that will come and intervene, they will go back in body bags.’”

The party said the media was also awash with reports of how governors of APC-controlled states, especially, in the North-west, publicly romanced and empowered terrorists by paying them billions of naira of public funds in various hurried, uncoordinated, and hazy negotiations.

PDP stated, “Nigerians have not forgotten how in November 2020 the Muhammadu Buhari presidency, through its spokesperson, Shehu Garba, rationalised the beheading of 43 rice farmers in Borno State by terrorists and blamed the farmers for not obtaining clearance before going to their farms.

“Such comments and actions by Governor El-Rufai, the Buhari presidency, and other APC leaders have the propensity to embolden terrorists to unleash violence on innocent people, the results of which are now apparent and living with us.

“Our party challenges Governor El-Rufai and other APC leaders to speak out on the confession by a former APC leader that the terrorists pillaging our nation were brought in by APC leaders to rig the 2019 general election, but had remained in the country following the failure by the APC to pay them for the heinous ‘services’ they were contracted to provide against the Nigerian people.”

PDP said El-Rufai should know that he and other APC leaders could not under any circumstance distance themselves from blame in the worsening insecurity, pain, horror, social dislocation of families, and life-discounting experiences being encountered daily by Nigerians under the APC.

PDP told El-Rufai that his suggestion or threats to import foreign mercenaries was counter-productive and capable of compounding the already dire security situation in the country.
The opposition party said it believed in the competence and capability of the country’s gallant armed forces to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity, adding that the security agencies are only encumbered by manifest complicity, conspiracy, incompetence, and failure of the security command and control coordination structure of the APC administration.
Seven of 11 Coaches Re-railed to Safety, as 80 Metres of Affected Rail Track Repaired

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said it had re-railed seven out of the 11 coaches of the Abuja-Kaduna AK9 train, which was bombed last Monday by terrorists between Rijana and Rigasa, in Kaduna State. NRC also disclosed that 80 metres of the affected rail tracks had been repaired.

In a statement by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, NRC confirmed that four coaches (SP 00004, SP00009, SP00012 and SP00013) out of the 11 involved in the incident had been re-railed and safely moved to Rigasa Station, while work was on-going on the track repairs.

Okhiria stated, “We did also state that 170 of the passengers onboard the train are safe while 21 passengers are reported missing. At the end of today’s evening work, (02/04/2022), the NRC’s restoration team has further re-railed four more coaches and two of the coaches (SP 00007 and SP 00013) had been safely moved to Idu and Rigasa stations, respectively. The other two coaches are still at the site due to damaged tracks.

“This brings the total coaches so far re-railed to seven, but only five successfully moved to the stations. However, efforts are on to linked the track, at the moment, a total of 80 meters of the affected section has been fixed, including replacement of affected sleepers and twisted rails.

“The corporation also confirmed updates that a total of 172 passengers on board the AK9 are safe and okay while 21 passengers are still reported missing. Let us assure our esteem passengers that the corporation, in collaboration with the security agencies, will leave no stone unturned in our efforts at rescuing the missing persons.”

The NRC boss condoled with those who lost their loved ones and prayed for the repose of the lost souls. He also sympathised with the injured passengers and everyone onboard for the trauma the unfortunate incident had caused.

Okhiria expressed gratitude to the security agencies, particularly, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air force, Nigeria Police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, for their support and cooperation.