The Nigerian government says it is doing everything within the law to ensure the safe release of the kidnapped victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed gave the assurance in Abuja while reacting to a 72-hour ultimatum issued to the government by relatives of the victims.
He urged the families to be patient.
“I think the Honorable Minister of Defence has already addressed the issue,” he said.
“What the federal government is doing won’t be the subject matter of a press conference, because we have lives at stake.
“And that the various arms of security are working night and day to unravel the mystery surrounding the attack as a whole.
“On the kidnapped people, what I can assure you is that the respective arms of government are actually engaged as we speak, and are working to get those victims released’’.
The minister said the 28 March attack on the train was a joint operation between Boko Haram and bandits.
“What is happening now is that there is a kind of an unholy handshake between bandits and Boko Haram insurgents.
“Preliminary reports of what transpired at the Kaduna train attacks show that there is a kind of collaboration between the bandits and the dislodged Boko Haram terrorists from the northeast.
“I can tell you very confidently that the federal government on the top of this matter,” Alhaji Mohammed added.
The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd) also said security chiefs were working hard to identify those behind the various fatal attacks across Nigeria.
“Honestly, I think the security chiefs are working hard to unveil those that are involved, and we will tell you very soon those that are carrying out these attacks. Both attacks in Jos and Kaduna.
“We will come and explain to the public what is really going on and our efforts to ensure that all these activities are stopped once and for all,” the minister said.
