President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he discarded the use of lethal military force in extracting the remaining Abuja-Kaduna train abductees.
Buhari said his administration discarded the lethal military force because the outcome and minimize potential collateral damage could not be assured.
The President stated this when he met with representatives of the victims at the presidential villa in Abuja on Thursday.
He added that about 31 victims are still in captivity.
The Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement issued on Thursday, said Buhari told representatives of the families that several actions had been taken by the government to bring assistance to the affected families and to prevent a recurrence in the country.
Buhari disclosed that the Federal Government is doing everything within its powers to ensure the safe return of the remaining captives.
‘‘I have been informed that at last count, there remain about 31 people in the hands of the kidnappers, and our determination is to work towards returning these 31 people to their families.
‘‘It is understandable that emotions typically run high, we have received several suggestions about the deployment of lethal military force in extracting those still being held in captivity. This option has indeed been considered and evaluated. However, the condition to guarantee a successful outcome and minimize potential collateral damage could not be assured and therefore that course of action had to be reluctantly discarded.
”My primary concern is to get everyone released safe and unhurt,’’ he said.
