Hajia Salamatu Adebayo, Publicity Secretary, Mothers for United Nigeria (MUN), has said that rather than verbally attacking the Nigerian military which may discourage them, they should be commended for their efforts during the March 28 attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train.
Adebayo, spokesperson of the non-partisan women group, made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja in a statement entitled: “Our military should be commended and not reviled.’’
She said the attack by enemies of the state on the Kaduna bound train service stood condemned.
She said the MUN was mournful that lives were lost in the attack and prayed for God to comfort those who lost their loved ones.
“The encounter with the terrorists undoubtedly brought out the best in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“Immediately information of the attack reached them, our troops stormed the location and rescued victims,’’ she stated.
Adebayo quoted one of the victims, Maimuna Ibrahim, as saying she was “unable to walk; it was a soldier who carried me on his back to climb the cliff to the car that brought us to the hospital’’.
She recalled that another lucky victim, Anas Danmusa said: “the soldiers informed us that the Air Force could not make it due to the weather but help was on the way and they fulfilled their promise.’’
Adebayo stressed that survivors acknowledged the response and arrival of troops at the scene as the fastest anybody could achieve by road.
She stated that victims also commended the military for making sure that those that were badly injured were taken to 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital quickly.
According to Adebayo, the Kaduna State Government also applauded the swift response of the military in salvaging the situation.
She stated that the efforts of the military in the Northeast could not be ignored, adding that the military had continued to mount pressure on terrorists who had resorted to different deadly tactics for relevance.
“The pressure led some 7,000 members of the Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists and Boko Haram groups to surrender in the Northeast within one week.
“MUN commends the armed forces ably led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, who swiftly deployed personnel to effect rescue and also visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment.
“MUN will continue to pray for the safety of troops and their successes against the machinations of the enemies of state,’’ she added.
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