President Muhammadu Buhari was not aware of the terrorists threat to kidnap him 24 hours after it was issued.
Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai disclosed this in a media chat on Wednesday in Kaduna.
He said he had to inform the president about 24 hours after the bandits issued the threat.
On Saturday, kidnappers of Kaduna train passengers had threatened to abduct Buhari and El-Rufai in new video.
The terrorists threatened to slaughter some of the remaining hostages, sell some of the women like they did to Chibok girls, abduct senators and other government officials.
In the media chat on Wednesday night, El-Rufai said, “I also told him (Buhari) about the video because up to that day (Sunday) he was not even aware. I told him and the following day Zamfara state governor, Bello Matawalle, also confirmed to him that he saw the video too so as to take action.”
The governor added that, “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 think this is a joke and see 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.
“The president assured me that he met with the service chiefs 3-4 days before our meeting and that he gave them a clear directive to have a comprehensive military operation to deal with those people. We hope, God’s willing the soldiers and police that were given the directives will hasten up to finish the job. We don’t have to wait until they (terrorists) strike before we respond.
“They (soldiers) 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 said.
The terrorists released a video footage were they were seen mercilessly flogging the hostages comprising women, the aged and children.
The footage was replete with wailing of children and women who were beaten repeatedly by the terrorists.
A terrorist who spoke in the video said they would slaughter the over 40 hostages if the federal government fails to accede to their demands.
The terrorist said, “This is our message to the government of Nigeria and just as you have seen these people here, by God’s grace, you will see your leaders; your senators and governors will come before us. These ones you are seeing here, we will keep some as our slaves and sell them off just as our Imam told you in the past.”
The kidnapper who also spoke in Hausa said, “Just like the Chibok girls that were sold off, we will equally sell these ones as slaves. If you don’t adhere to our demands, we will kill the ones we need to kill and sell the remaining. By God’s grace, El-Rufai, Buhari, we will bring you here.”
