Military claims killing ISWAP leader, Bako, 37 others

• Railways demand security for crew, passengers
• Cleric rallies Christians for peace

The military high command has said that troops fighting terrorists in the North East have killed the new leader of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), Malam Bako, and 37 other terrorists.

Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, said yesterday that Bako, who succeeded Abu Al-Barnawi as leader of ISWAP, was gunned down by troops in the course of its operations in the last two weeks.

Onyeuko also said that 11 criminal elements, including terrorists, their informants and logistics suppliers, were arrested within the period under review.

He explained that between October 15 and 28, 2021, a total of 1,199 terrorists and their families, comprising 114 adult males, 312 adult females and 773 children, surrendered to the troops at different locations in the North East.

WITH the recent terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna railway, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and Senior Staff Association, Nigerian Railway Branch, has urged that the Federal Government to provide security on trains, as well as the crew and passengers.

Addressing a press conference, yesterday, President-General of NUR, Innocent Ajiji, and his Senior Staff Association counterpart, Aliyu Mainasara, said the premeditated attack on the Abuja–Kaduna passenger train was not just a terrorist attack on the collective sensibilities and conscience of a nation but also a brazen attack against humanity.

While condemning the act, the unions said it became extremely rational to question the safety of the rail transport system in Nigeria.

BISHOP David Abioye of the Living Faith Church has called for concerted efforts towards addressing the security challenge in the country.

Abioye, who was the guest speaker at the 11th National Prayer Breakfast 2021 organised by the Fellowship of Christian Legislators, yesterday, in Abuja, urged the people to speak up.

“We must speak up in the face of crisis. Crisis time is not silence time because if you don’t speak up, the crisis will continue. Individuals must operate in faith to quell the crisis,” he said.