News

Seven more abducted passengers of the Abuja- Kaduna train attack have been freed.

According to report,  the son of Ango Abdullahi, chairman of Northern Elders Forum, NEF, is among the seven freed victims.

Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald, confirmed the release of the abducted passengers.

On March 28, a train on its way from Abuja was attacked by bandits in Kaduna. Several persons were killed, dozens injured, while others were abducted.

Eleven of the abducted passengers had earlier been released in June.

Mamu identified the newly-freed passengers as Muhammad Paki, Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule, Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, Aliyu Usman and Muhammad Abuzar Afzal, a Pakistani.

“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 Ahmad Gumi,” he said.

That is why I keep emphasising that government has the power to end the agony of these innocent victims in one day. This is just one individual that sacrifice his life and even integrity.

“There is no military solution to the current security debacle in Nigeria. When you sincerely engage them, these guys even though wicked with misguided religious beliefs, they are listening.

“I have sufficient evidence to prove that they do listen. It is this power of engagement and sincerity that resulted to the release of these seven victims.”

Abdulfatai Jimoh, the coordinator of the families of the abducted passengers, confirmed the release of the seven victims.

Yes, it is true seven people were released today, I just spoke with the family of one of those released,” Jimoh said.

The development comes four days after insurgents attacked and freed inmates of the Kuje correctional facility in Abuja.

Cable/Taiwo Akinola

News

A new video of some passengers abducted by gunmen during the Abuja-Kaduna train attack has been released.

In the short clip, six passengers, including a Pakistani, were seen sitting and kneeling in front of the camera with a gun-wielding man in green balaclava marshalling them.

According to  report, the footage was recently shot in the den of the kidnappers.

A couple of victims who spoke appealed to the federal government to heed the demands of their abductors to aid their release.

Mohammed, the Pakistani, urged both the Nigerian government and the authorities of his home country to come to the victims’ aid.

“My name is Mohammed, I’m working here in Nigeria, but a foreign national, a Pakistani. We were abducted from the Abuja-Kaduna train on 28 March. We are here; 62 in number,” he said.

“The conditions are not very good. I am appealing to the government of Nigeria; the government of Pakistan and the international community to help us.”

An unnamed victim in hijab reiterated the plea amid tears, adding that she is in captivity alongside her family.

“We are pleading with anybody who is in any position to assist us to please come to our aid — and give our abductors their demand so they can let us go. I’m here with my entire family.

It had recently reported that, the abductors’ threat to start killing hostages in seven days if their demands are not met.

The terrorists demanded the release of their children, who they said are in the custody of the Nigerian army.

The gunmen had in March attacked the train around the Kateri-Rijana area of Kaduna, killing several passengers and abducting many.

Cable/Taiwo Akinola