The Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufa’i has disclosed that he is considering hiring foreign mercenaries to fight terrorists in Kaduna state that have continued unabated, failure by the federal government to take a drastic measure. El-Rufa’i made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen shortly after he went to the state House to brief President Buhari on the incident of Kaduna bound train attack by the Fulani militia four days ago. The Governor said, he has sworn an oath to protect Kaduna state citizens' lives and properties when he took over the leadership, and therefore he will go to any length to do that.
Speaking in the Hausa language, the governor said, “I have complained to Mr. President and I swear to God, if action is not taken, we as governors will take actions to protect the lives of our people.
“If it means deploying foreign mercenaries to come and do the work, we will do it to address these challenges.”
Recall during the time of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration in 2015, the federal government allegedly made a similar attempt of hiring foreign mercenaries from South Africa to smoke out Boko Haram, though the Government has denied it.
Consequently, he revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to take drastic action against terrorists in the country, insisting that the best way to end the crisis was to bombard the forest that is giving the terrorist shelter.
Commenting on the Monday attack where a train was bombed by the terrorist, El-Rufa’i said, “They came ready and they have been preparing for a long time and knew which coach to attack, abduct the VIP.
He reminded the journalist saying, “And I have been saying that the forests where these bandits are hiding, it is high time that we go there and bomb them all. Everyone in the forest should be killed.
He suggested that unless such drastic measure is taken, the Fulani militias are set for ethnic annihilation with the possibility of ending the Nigerian state.
El-Rufa’i lamented, “These people (terrorists) are getting money. The way they are so emboldened; they fear no authority, no soldier and so why won’t security agents go to their enclaves and kill them all?
“We know where they are, SSS gives reports on them every day, they have their numbers including that of Dogo Gide and what he is planning,” he said.
The governor reiterated his stand on ransom paying, saying Kaduna state Government will not pay the ransom on anybody.
Though, he revealed that they have contacted some of the relations of the abducted passengers but are yet to make a specific demand.
He added, “They are not the ordinary kidnappers, it’s Boko Haram members that connived with bandits to launch the attack and so our thought is, they may demand the government to pay the ransom.”
Meanwhile, he assured that security agencies are working tirelessly to ensure that the abductees are safely rescued and be united with their families.