A renowned professor at Usmanu Dan Fodyo University, Sokoto, Malam Tukur Mamu has clarified that the need for dialogue, especially with the armed group that attacked the Abuja -Kaduna train, is the only guarantee of total safety of passengers on the rail lines, else the government will continue to lose millions in revenue.
He said that what they achieved after nearly three months of the attack and abduction is the result of dialogue and engagement which the force cannot achieve. He also stated that the country’s security agencies are capable of confronting the bandits but the dilemma is that humans can be used as shields.
Mamu , however, said that having succeeded in opening a channel of communication and building trust between the representatives of the government and the abductors and succeeding in dousing the tension and earlier threat of execution, he will disengage from the voluntary service of the ongoing dialogue to secure the remaining victims.
Expressing his disappointment that the terrorists failed to release all the women held in captivity as they agreed, he said he believes government can now explore the opportunity to ensure that the remaining victims are released in good time. The terrorists released only six females and five males.
Meanwhile, family members of those in captivity have expressed their grief and disappointment so far, saying that the silence of the Presidency is disturbing. They reiterated the willingness of the families to negotiate with the terrorists only if the latter would be willing to open up a channel of communication.
