The terrorists responsible for the attacked on the Abuja-Kaduna bound AK9 train on March, 28, have released 11 out of the remaining 61 abducted train passengers, after almost three months in captivity. The released victims, who are composed of six females and five males, regained their freedom on Saturday, after an agreement was reached between the abductors and the Federal Government. Following the release indications have emerged that Malam Tukur Mamu, an associate of Sheik Ahmad Gumi, and the Publisher of Desert Herald spearheaded the dialogue that led to the release of the captives by terrorists.
He said his sources confided in him that the terrorists released the male captives on health grounds, adding that the women were among the vulnerable in captivity.
“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 among the released,” he said.
Recall that gunmen suspected to be terrorists had on March 28, 2022, abducted Kaduna-Abuja train passengers, after killing nine passengers, and wounding others.
The terrorists had threatened to start killing the victims if the Federal Government refuses to negotiate with them.
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.