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Kaduna-Abuja Train: Govt Colluding With Bandits – Nigerians Raise Concerns
The Nigerian Government has been accused of colluding with bandits following the recent attacks on the Kaduna International Airport and a rail line in the State.
Deji Adeyanju, the convener of Concerned Nigerians, said President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Service Chiefs and governors would take the issue of insecurity seriously when they become victims.
Within one week, bandits attacked the Kaduna Airport and also blew up the Kaduna-Abuja rail line.
The bandits were said to have stormed the Kaduna Airport on Saturday at about 12.30 pm and prevented an aircraft from taking off.
Confirming the incident, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, said security agents repelled the bandits and restored normalcy to the airport.
While the State was yet to recover from the incident, bandits struck again; their latest attack was the bombing of a rail line between Katari and Rijani train station, along the Kaduna-Abuja route.
DAILY POST observed that banditry activities along the Kaduna-Abuja road has reduced, while the rail line seems to be those gunmen’s latest target.
The heavy presence of military and other security agencies in Kaduna, which houses almost all training schools for the military and other security architecture in the country, has not been maximized in tackling insecurity in the State.
Amid this security presence, the State has continued to witness a high-level increase in insecurity, a situation that has made some Nigerians believe that the Government is colluding with these bandits.
Speaking with DAILY POST on the matter, Deji Adeyanju, an Abuja-based activist, said the way bandits operate freely leaves room to suspect that the Government was colluding with bandits.
Adeyanju said: “Our politicians do not take the insecurity situation in the country seriously; the Service Chiefs do not take it seriously because it’s a business to them now; you know they are smiling to the bank at the same expense of the Nation.
“The governors, Senators, National Assembly do not take it seriously. They would only take it seriously when the governor or Minister becomes the victim or parliamentarians become the victim. My appeal to these bandits is that they should leave the ordinary Nigerian and face these big people.
“The only way we can find a solution is if the President, Vice President, governors, and Service Chiefs are affected.
“Our leaders are playing politics and joking with the lives of Nigerians; insecurity in the country has become an enterprise; you can see what happened with Abba Kyari.
“There is no way you can tell me that these criminals will be operating freely. The DSS had intelligence when people wanted to protest, but they had no intelligence when an airport was attacked. The DSS does have intelligence reports and even kill innocent protesters all over the country, but when it’s time to have imminent reports on a place like the Kaduna-Abuja railway and a major airport in the country, they claim to be ignorant.
“There is deliberate collusion somewhere, it seems like the Government and these bandits are working together, or the bandits are working for our leaders and the Security Chiefs, because there is no explanation that there would be a complete failure of intelligence in the entire country. In the whole country, there would be no intelligence to suggest that there would be an imminent attack on critical infrastructures like the Kaduna Airport or the Kaduna-Abuja railway line, but they have security reports on every protest in the country. So, you can see that there is collusion somewhere.”
He alleged compromise by Nigerian leaders in the area of insecurity.
“We must call a spade by its name; there is no gainsaying that there is a high level of compromise by our leaders in the ongoing security challenges in the country.
“Recently, these bandits attacked a military barrack in Kaduna and abducted someone with ransom paid. So you can see that there is a complete failure of architecture in the country, and that is why I alleged compromised.
“In my mind, the Government is working with bandits because there is no justification whatsoever that these guys are working unabated or are not being aided by people in Government. After all, that can be the only explanation for what is happening in the country,” he added.
Similarly, an Abuja-based lawyer, Anthony Ehilebo, accused politicians and some military officers of having an “understanding” with bandits.
Ehilebo accused the Government of being lackadaisical about tackling the activities of banditry.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Director of New Media, recalled that Governor Nasir El-Rufai once paid bandits off.
He said: “My security people told me that such operations would not take the Nigerian military police 24 hours. Still, the Government has been lackadaisical about it; perhaps it’s because we are getting close to an election. Don’t forget that bandits have been known to say they were brought in for election purposes in 2015, and they have not been settled.
“We are politicians, and some of us think long-term. They believe that they would decimate a particular population so they can’t vote from there, which is Kaduna’s unfortunate story.
“They started with the road three or four years ago, and I dare any brave politician to travel along the Kaduna-Abuja road. To think that our Government can’t secure two hours road? People are no longer traveling on the road; they now prefer trains, and these bandits sometimes kidnap them. What makes you think these bandits have an agenda? They don’t have an agenda; the agenda of Boko Haram has been outlived, and now what they are doing is survival; they are making a lot of money.
“Our intelligence agencies have so much resources that can be used to pick up all these bandits. There is a guy on Twitter that knows all the bandits and their leaders and he is very accurate in his information, so, why should Nigerians be made to pay for this Government’s incompetence?
“These politicians have deals with these guys (bandits) to help them deliver areas during elections. There is nothing anybody will tell me that these military don’t have an understanding with these guys (bandits) because you can’t come to Edo State and say you want to kill people, and they won’t go after you. Don’t forget that El-Rufai paid these guys money at some point and what did they do? They used the money to buy arms, and this is what you think you know. Do you know how he has been settling them?”
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede has declared that he has fulfilled his 2024 promise to oversee the prosecution of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Addressing public questions regarding his previous vow to resign if Bello was not prosecuted, Olukoyede stated during an interview on Sunday Politics aired by Channels Television that his mandate to investigate and bring the matter to court has been achieved.
“A sitting governor, because he knew he was about to leave office, moved money directly from government to a bureau de change and used it to pay his child’s school fees in advance $720,000,” Olukoyede said.
He described the alleged action as disturbing, particularly in view of the economic condition of Kogi State.
“In a poor state like Kogi, you want me to close my eyes to that under the excuse that I am being used? Being used by who at this stage of my life?” he asked.
Olukoyede also recalled a public statement he made in April 2024, when he vowed to resign if Bello was not prosecuted.
“If I do not personally oversee the completion of the investigation regarding Yahaya Bello, I will tender my resignation as the chairman of the EFCC,” he had said.
Addressing public concerns over the pace of the case, the EFCC chairman said the commission had fulfilled its responsibility and that the matter is now before the courts.
“Have I not fulfilled that promise? Is Yahaya Bello not being prosecuted? The case is in court,” he said.
He stressed that the EFCC’s role is to investigate and prosecute, not to determine guilt or secure convictions.
“I have three cases against Yahaya Bello. Am I the judge who will decide conviction? I have done my work and fulfilled my mandate,” Olukoyede added.
Bello is currently facing multiple charges before different courts. He is standing trial on a 16-count charge involving alleged property fraud amounting to N110 billion, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
In a separate case before the Federal High Court, the former governor is also facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and money laundering involving N80.2 billion.
The EFCC had earlier declared Bello wanted in April 2024 over alleged financial crimes estimated at about N80 billion, a development that sparked widespread political debate.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Abubakar Salim Musa (known as @AM_Saleeeem on X), a prominent critic of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Atiku’s statement characterized the arrest as part of a “growing crackdown on dissent” and warned that such repression threatens Nigeria’s democratic future as the nation approaches a critical general election period.
Atiku made the call in a statement issued on Monday, following a report by Amnesty International Nigeria on the arrest of the young Nigerian on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
“This case is yet another stark example of the repressive nature of the President Bola Tinubu administration, which continues to bare its fangs against dissent, whether expressed through public protests or online criticism,” Atiku said.
According to him, Musa’s only offence was his persistent criticism of the worsening security situation in Northern Nigeria and across the country.
“Abubakar’s only ‘offense’ was his consistent and legitimate criticism of the deteriorating security situation in Northern Nigeria and across the country,” he stated.
Rather than engage with the concerns raised, Atiku said the government resorted to intimidation and prosecution.
“Instead of addressing these serious concerns, the government’s response has been to arrest him and subject him to what Amnesty International rightly describes as ‘bogus charges and a sham trial,” he added.
The former vice president stressed that Musa’s arrest was not an isolated incident, noting that several Nigerians had suffered similar treatment for expressing dissent.
“Numerous Nigerians, including journalists, schoolchildren, entertainers and even NYSC members, have faced arrest, assault and intimidation simply for criticising the President or members of his family,” Atiku said.
He warned that such actions pose a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
“This dangerous trend undermines the very foundations of democracy, which rest on the protection of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression,” he said.
Atiku further argued that Nigeria’s democratic credentials were being eroded by the continued repression of critics.
“Nigeria cannot claim to be part of the free world while its citizens are routinely arrested, assaulted and intimidated for voicing criticism of their government,” he stated.
With general elections approaching, Atiku cautioned against an atmosphere of fear and repression.
“As the nation approaches a critical general election, neither the people nor the opposition can operate effectively in an atmosphere of fear and repression,” he warned.
He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Musa and others detained for exercising their constitutional rights.
“I call on the Tinubu administration to immediately and unconditionally release Abubakar Salim Musa and all others detained for exercising their constitutional rights,” Atiku said.
He also urged the government to halt arbitrary arrests and intimidation, while calling on the international community to intervene.
“I urge the international community, particularly countries and organisations that champion democracy and human rights, to hold the Tinubu regime accountable and demand an end to these violations,” he said.
Atiku concluded by calling on Nigerians and civil society groups to resist any further erosion of civil liberties.
“I encourage fellow patriots, civil society groups and all Nigerians of conscience to join this demand and stand firmly against any further erosion of our freedoms,” he added.
A new video has emerged showing two men reportedly kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, pleading for assistance to secure their release.
One of the captives, former Biu Local Government Area Chairman Hassan Biu Miringa, revealed that their abductors are demanding a $300,000 ransom.
Miringa said he and another individual were taken in December 2025 and have remained in the custody of the militants.
In the video shared by Zagazola Makama, Miringa introduced himself, saying: “I am Hassan Biu Miringa, former Chairman of Biu Local Government from 2020 to 2022. Four years after my tenure, we were kidnapped by the soldiers of Khilafa about two weeks ago. Alhamdulillah, we are still alive, but we urgently need help to save our lives.”
He added that negotiations with the kidnappers had been underway, with some preliminary agreements reportedly reached.
“We have engaged them on four separate occasions and reached an understanding. We appeal to our leaders, especially Borno State Deputy Governor Alhaji Usman Umar Kadafur, the National Assembly representative for Biu, Kwaya, and Shani Hon. Betera Aliyu, as well as our community leaders, to temper justice with mercy and assist us. We are their children and have been working together,” Miringa said.
He confirmed the ransom demand, explaining that each captive is expected to pay $150,000, totaling $300,000 for their freedom, and pleaded for urgent intervention to reunite with their families.
The video highlights ongoing concerns over kidnappings and insecurity in southern Borno State, which have persisted despite government efforts to curb insurgent activity in the region.
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