In a clear show of disdain for Nigeria’s security architecture and capability to defend her territory against external invasions, a terrorist group, embedded in the North West, has served notice of its plan to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari.
Although, this plan may sound too audacious to believe because of the seeming watertight security around the number one citizen, yet given the low level to which security of life and property has degenerated in Nigeria, it would be perilous to dismiss the group with a wave of the hand or to laugh it to scorn.
The President had never, until now, been threatened with kidnap. It was hitherto unthinkable.
This could as well be interpreted as a challenge to the operational readiness and capacity of the nation’s security beyond mere taunting.
The terrorist group made its threat known in a fresh video where its members were shown flogging some of its captives.
The threat came on the heels of an attack on the convoy of President Buhari’s advance team or party which was going to Daura, Katsina state, preparatory to the President’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration in his country home.
In a new viral video reportedly seen by Daily Trust newspaper, the daredevil terrorists, who recently attacked the Kuje prison in Abuja and freed their members locked up in the Correctional Centre, also threatened to kidnap Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State.
The terrorists, who kidnapped over 60 passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna bound train on March 28, 2022 also threatened to kill those remaining in their captive.
They boasted that they would destroy the country.
One of the terrorists said in the video that unless the government complied with their demands, they would turn the area into an abattoir.
“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,” he 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,” one of the terrorists further said in Hausa language.
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