Seven of the 50 remaining abductees of the March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack were on Saturday released by the terrorists who kidnapped them.
According to the Desert Herald, Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule, Muhammad Daiyabu Paki, Aliyu Usman and the only foreign national of Pakistani origin, Dr. Muhammad Abuzar Afzal, were set free after negotiations by Tukur Mamu, who on June 11, also secured the release of eleven other victims of the train attack.
Mamu, a media consultant to Kaduna-based Islam cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, said he singlehandedly negotiated the release of the victims, despite his earlier resolve to withdraw completely from negotiations due to setbacks which he blamed on government.
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However, he reconsidered his stand ”in view of the respect and confidence” the abductors have in his ability to sincerely engage in dialogue, he said.
“I want to assure the nation that everything that was achieved today was singlehandedly initiated and arranged by me with the full support and prayers of my principal, Sheikh Gumi. That is why I keep emphasising that government has the power to end the agony of this innocent victims in one day,” he said.
“There is no military solution to the current security debacle in Nigeria. When you sincerely engage them (terrorists), even though wicked with misguided religious beliefs, they are listening.”
According to Mamu, no ransom was paid in securing the release of the abductees.
Mamu who is publisher of the Desert Herald, said the 7 rescued victims have been handed over to the military and are now on their way to Kaduna. He thanked the Kaduna military GOC for the support he gave during the rescue mission.
“The location they (terrorists) gave is remote, sensitive and risky. There was a military checkpoint before penetrating the forest. My team was stopped by the soldiers but when they told the military our mission they contacted the GCO and he immediately gave approval for them to proceed.
“And after the victims were successfully evacuated, travelling through over 40 kilometers in the forest, they were given a military escort back to Kaduna at the checkpoint.”
Mamu pleaded with the families of the remaining victims to engage government to secure the release of their loved ones, hinting that he will not be involved in negotiations again.
On March 28, 2022, terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound passenger train, killing eight people and abducting 63 others. Many others were wounded.
One of the abducted victims was released few days after a ransom of N100 million was paid. A pregnant woman was also released, before the 11 set free four weeks ago.
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