Friday, March 29, 2024

Buhari wasn’t aware of terrorists’ abduction threat until I told him – El-Rufai

BY FOLASHADE KEHINDE

GOVERNOR Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said on Wednesday night that President Muhammadu Buhari was not aware of terrorists’ threat to abduct him until he (El-Rufai) told him.

He said Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State also confirmed to the President that he saw the video where the terrorists had threatened to abduct Buhari and El-Rufai.

The Kaduna governor who disclosed this on a Radio programme monitored by our correspondent, noted that he and his family members had been warned to be careful.

He said he had always said that the solution to terrorism, banditry and all was to bomb terrorists’ camps.

He added that it was ridiculous that terrorists would be threatening to abduct the President in a country with Police, Soldiers and a Federal Government.

El-Rufai said, “I also heard about a video where they threatened to abduct Buhari and myself. I have been warned to be careful, including my families too. How can we be in a country with Soldiers, Police and Federal Government but some terrorists will be threatening to abduct the President?

‎”If in the past, those in government thought this was a joke and saw it as only happening in Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger, it’s now at home and we must rise up to deal with these people.

“This is why I met with the President on Sunday and told him about these problems. I also told him about the video because, up to that day, he was not even aware. The following day, Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, also confirmed to him that he saw the video too, so as to take action.”

He revealed that President Buhari assured him that he met with service chiefs about four days before his meeting with him and gave them a clear directive to have a comprehensive military operation to deal with the terrorists.

“We hope, God willing, the soldiers and police that were given the directives will hasten to finish the job. We don’t have to wait until they strike before we respond.

“They must go after them wherever they are to deal with them. The truth is we are worried about the security situation, but we hope the Federal Government will do the right thing, ” the Governor noted.

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