No fewer than 11 passengers who were abducted after the Abuja-Kaduna bound train attack have regained their freedom on Saturday, after spending nearly three months in captivity.
This was disclosed by Tukur Mamu, publisher of a northern newspaper who was said to have served as a mediatior in the negotiations that eventually led to their release.
According to Mamu, those released include six female and five male captives. While the men were freed on health grounds, the women were released due to their vulnerability.
The victims include Jessy John, Amina Ba’aba Mohammed (Gamba), Rashida Yusuf Busari, Hannah Ajewole and Amina Jibril, Najib Mohammed Daiharu, Gaius Gambo, Hassan Aliyu, Peace A. Boy and Danjuma Sa’idu.
“The good news is our collective efforts have succeeded in securing the release of 11 of the victims so far. With the continued support of the FG all the remaining victims will be released soon Insha Allah”, Mamu said.
“It was expected initially that all the abducted women will be released in the first batch while negotiations for the release of the remaining victims will continue but the abductors had cut down the number of women they initially agreed to release because the Nigerian Government had demanded that they include those with life threatening injuries.
“Behind the scene, Sheikh Gumi by Allah’s will made it possible. He was involved from the day I started. In fact, I accepted that role because of his directives to that effect. Even the final arrangement of how and the safest place to get the victims was arranged and coordinated by him,” he added.
However, the families of the victims are yet to confirm this release.
On March 28, the terrorists bombed the train, killed many passengers and abducted at least 62 persons. The terrorist had threatened to kill the abducted passengers if the government fail to meet their demands.
Parts of the demands were the unconditional release of their detained children held in an orphanage home in Adamawa State under strict supervision of the Nigerian Army as well as the release of their detained comrade at arms.
But, Mamu did not disclose if the demands of the terrorists were met. The first person to regain freedom after the attack was the managing director of Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, who was released on April 6. The second person to regain freedom was a pregnant captive, Thamina Mahmood, who was released on compassionate grounds on May 14.