Buhari: “We won’t use force to free kidnapped railway passengers.”

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

According to President Muhammadu Buhari, the federal government will not resort to using force to secure the release of the last remaining passengers from the tragic Abuja-Kaduna train.

On Thursday, August 11, at a meeting with members of the victims’ relatives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Buhari stated they had considered all their options and determined that the best way to ensure that all the victims returned home safely was not to use force. Additionally, he said that the federal government is taking all necessary steps to ensure the safe repatriation of the remaining hostages.

The President declared: “I have been informed that, as of last count, there are still approximately 31 people in the hands of the kidnappers. It is our determination to work for their restoration to their families.”

It is normal for emotions to be high, and we have heard a number of calls for using fatal military force to free those who are still being held captive.

“This possibility has in fact been taken into account and assessed. That course of action, though, had to be reluctantly abandoned because it was impossible to ensure a positive outcome and reduce any collateral harm. My top priority is to release everyone unscathed and safely.

Every single one of them will be sought out and contacted in their own language.

I will say that they (security operatives) have heard this command and are responding accordingly based on the reports that are currently available to me and the news that has started to emerge in the previous few days.

You must have heard in the last few days how many terrorists the military has killed and how many hostages have been set free. These initiatives won’t cease or scale back.

Additionally, Buhari stated that the government had taken a number of steps to assist the impacted families and stop a repetition in the nation.