We Have Bandits Phone Numbers, We Know Their Hideouts – El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El Rufai, has admitted that the Nigerian government has knowledge of the identity of bandits and their camps.

Speaking on Wednesday in reaction to the attack by bandits of an Abuja-Kaduna train on Monday evening, the governor said authorities also listen to the conversations of the armed groups terrorising the North-West.

According to El-Rufai; “We know where their camps are. We know their camps, we have the maps; we know everything. We have their phone numbers and listen to their conversation sometimes. But it has to be done across the five states”.

The governor who noted that the Nigerian military was originally reluctant to bomb the camps of the bandits to avoid civilian collateral damage, added that since a competent court has declared them terrorists, the rule of engagement has changed.

He said; “This is war“.

“We know what they (terrorists) are planning. We get the reports. The problem is for the agencies to take action. Don’t wait until they attack before you respond. The Army should go after their enclaves to wipe them out. Let the Air Force bomb them”.

He also stressed that the attack could have been averted if the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, had listened to his warning to discontinue late evening operations.