How we secured release of abducted train passengers – Defence Headquarters
The release of the final group of the kidnapped passengers from the Kaduna-Abuja train was obtained, according to the sparse information provided by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).
However, it claimed that the non-kinetic operation, which was managed by a powerful committee, was secret.
Major General Jimmy Akpor, the Director of Defence Information, dropped the clue at the biweekly media briefing with Defence Correspondents, stating that components of the national power were sent in to free the remaining 23 hostages who had been kidnapped on March 28……Continue Reading
He asserted: “We have what we refer to as components of national power, and when we talk about elements of national power, we have natural and social forces, which may be used singly or in combination to accomplish national goals.
“You know that this was a very powerful committee and that they used those components of national authority in a very secretive way to make sure that the last batch was published.”
Akpor stated that the terrorists who carried out the atrocity will not escape justice.
“Talking about what happened to the terrorists,that is part of that details you won’t get now but surely anybody who commits any offence against the nation will definitely be fished out and be brought to book,” he assured.
Also fielding questions on the release of the hostages, the Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, confirmed that the operation was non-kinetic.
“I don’t think the details of the operation should be an issue for now, the most important thing is that these people have been held hostage for six months plus and the Defence Headquarters in collaboration with other agencies and a Committee that was set up by the President and Commander in Chief, has been able to secure their release.
“In the course of operations,there is what we call kinetic and non kinetic operations and this one was that of non kinetic Operations that was conducted to see that these people are released. At appropriate time,the details will be given”.
