Kaduna Train Attack: Terrorists release seven more kidnapped passengers

Seven passengers kidnapped during the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, have been released.

It was reported that the terrorists attacked the train, bombed a section of the rail track, killed 9 passengers and abducted 62, including children.

Confirming the release, Malam Tukur Mamu, a member of the negotiating team and media consultant to Kaduna based Islamic cleric, Shiek Ahmad Gumi, said the victims were released on Saturday, July 9 based on dialogue and negotiations with the terrorists.

He told Channels Television in an interview.

The freed passengers include the son of the Chairman of Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, Sadiq Abdullahi, Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu and Alhassan Sule. Others are Muhammad Daiyabu Paki, Aliyu Usman and a Pakistani national, Dr. Muhammad Abuzar Afzal.

Mamu said; “That is why I keep emphasising that government has the power to end the agony of this 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 this guys even though wicked with misguided religious beliefs, they are listening. I have sufficient evidence to probe that they due listen. It is this power of engagement and sincerity that resulted to the release of this 7 victims.

“The location they (abductors) 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 GOC 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.” he said.