Abuja-Kaduna train attack: Terrorists free 11 out of 62 passengers

YemieFash June 12, 2022 0 Comments

Eleven more of the train passengers abducted by terrorists in Kaduna State on March 28 breathed the air of freedom yesterday after 75 days in captivity.

Their release followed a deal brokered by federal government’s negotiators.

There are now 51 yet to regain their freedom.

News of the latest release was broken yesterday by Malam Tukur Mamu, Media Consultant to popular Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmed Gumi.

It came on a day Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), described dialogue with armed groups as key to ending the current security challenges in the country; and 18 days after Mamu, Publisher of Desert Herald, said the terrorists called him and threatened to start killing the hostages within seven days if government failed to negotiate for their freedom.

The freed hostages, some of whom are in fragile health, have been flown to Abuja for medical evaluation and attention.

It was gathered that talks were being intensified last night to secure the release of the others.

The discreet negotiation with the terrorists was sanctioned by President Muhammadu Buhari who also raised the team.

Mamu confirmed that he and Gumi also played a significant role in mediating with the bandits.

The negotiators include retired military generals, a renowned professor, a lecturer at the Usman Dan Fodio University and some security experts.

Released were six females and five males.

Their names were given as Jessy John, Amina Ba’aba Mohammed (Gamba), Rashida Yusuf Busari, Hannah Ajewole and Amina Jibril. Others include Najib Mohammed Daiharu, Gaius Gambo, Hassan Aliyu, Peace A. Boy and Danjuma Sa’idu.

Mamu said: “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.

“Contrary to their earlier commitment to release all the women in their custody, a total number of 11 victims were released on Saturday, 11th June, 2022.

“The male victims, according to an inside source who pleaded anonymity, were released on health grounds as part of the request made by the negotiating team while the women who are among the vulnerable are part of the agreement reached with the abductors.

It was expected initially that all the abducted women would be released in the first batch while negotiations for the release of the remaining victims would continue, but according to another source that was privy to Saturday’s engagement with the abductors, they decided to cut down the number of women they initially agreed to release because of FG’s demand to include those with life threatening injuries/illnesses among the ones they released.

“President Buhari must be commended for understanding the gravity of the crisis and for giving directives to the security agencies.

“The CDS, Gen. Irabo has done excellently well under the circumstance. The Army and the DSS have played the crucial role. There is no military solution to this predicament.”

Mamu, however, said he was opting out of the ongoing negotiation with the bandits.

His words: “For personal reasons I will henceforth disengage from the voluntary service of this ongoing dialogue to secure the release of the remaining victims.

“Already, I have succeeded in opening a channel of communication and building trust between the representatives of the government and the abductors. I have also succeeded in dousing the tension and earlier threat of execution.

“I believe FG can now explore this opportunity to ensure that the remaining victims are released in good time.

“Even though the release of the 11victims is a huge milestone I’m personally disappointed that they failed to give us all the women as we earlier agreed. But I believe even if it’s one life we succeeded in securing the reward is unquantifiable before Allah”.

The abductors had, on May 24 issued a threat to start killing the captives within seven days should government fail to meet their demands including the release of their children, who he said are in the custody of the Nigerian army.

The abductees were passengers in an Abuja-Kaduna train when the terrorists attacked the train and took them hostage.

Buratai asks FG to dialogue with bandits, others to end Nigeria’s insecurity

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), yesterday identified dialogue with armed groups as key to ending the security challenges in the country.

Buratai spoke in Kaduna during a symposium on National Security organised by Arewa House and entitled: ‘Politics and Insecurity in Nigeria: Way Forward’.

Buratai also called for concerted efforts by government to leave no room for ungoverned spaces in the country’s porous borders.

He said dialogue with bandits has worked in places like the Philippines and Egypt and saw no reason why it should not be used in Nigeria.

“Let us not forget that the Islamic Brotherhood was once a dangerous terrorist group and it was responsible for the death of late President Anwar Sadat of Egypt in 1982, but the use of the carrot and stick approach saw them transformed into a party that eventually fielded Muhammad Mursi to contest and win presidential elections.

“The office of the National Security Adviser should collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Intelligence Agency, and the Defense Intelligence Agency to see how all foreign patrons or allies of the insurgents and bandits cut off their support. They should employ every diplomatic strategies, and where necessary subterfuge to block off.”

Also speaking at the forum, Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi said bandits terrorising North-West and North-Central parts of Nigeria were ready to lay down their arms provided they come in contact with trusted partners.