Barely four days after the attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), terrorists have released seven more passengers of the ambushed Abuja-Kaduna train shuttle.
The released persons have been in captivity since March 28, this year since their abduction by suspected Islamic State for West Africa (ISWAP) terrorists.
It would be recalled that in June, this year, the abductors freed 11 out of the scores of kidnapped passengers of the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train.
Among those who regained their freedom are six females and five males who have been flown to Abuja, for medical treatment.
The passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train shuttle were abducted by the terrorists, on Monday night of March 28, this year.
Last April 13, the Federal Government had assured that it was on top of the situation, but month later, most of the bducted passengers of the ill-fated train shuttle are yet to breathe the air of freedom.
According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Kaduna-bound train was attacked by a combined team of Boko Haram insurgents dislodged from the Northeast and bandits operating in Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara states.
“What is happening now is that there is a kind of an unholy handshake between bandits and Boko Haram insurgents.
“Preliminary report of what transpired at the Kaduna train attacks shows that there is a kind of collaboration between the bandits and Boko Haram terrorists dislodged from the Northeast.
“I can tell you very confidently that the Federal Government is on the top of this matter,” he added.
Since the attack in March, the terrorists have released a series of videos urging the Federal Government to meet their demands, which is said to be the release of their commanders in detention, in addition to money, among others.
The latest seven released passengers follows last Tuesday’s attack on the Kuje prison by suspected ISWAP terrorists, who have persistently demanded the release of their colleagues held captive by the Nigerian security operatives as condition for freeing abducted passengers on the train.
64 Boko Haram members, including their commanders, were forcefully freed in the aftermath of the attack by the ISWAP terrorists. Only one of the inmates has, however, been recaptured.
Kaduna-based publisher and former lead negotiator between the Federal Government and terrorists, Tukur Mamu, who disclosed this, Saturday, did not, however, say if ransom was paid.
Mamu, who is also the media aide to Islamic cleric, Sheik Gumi, during a chat with journalists, gave the update about his recent withdrawal as a lead negotiator.
He reiterated that he might not be involved in further negotiations with the terrorists, as he advised the families of the remaining abducted passengers to engage the government, saying the government has the capacity to secure their release.
He also disclosed the names of 11 freed passengers.
“Now I can reveal that it paid off as those released today (Saturday) include Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule and Sadiq Ango Abdullahi.
“Other lucky passengers are Muhammad Daiyabu Paki, Aliyu Usman and the only foreign national of Pakistani origin, Dr. Muhammad Abuzar Afzal,” he said.
Continuing, Mamu said: “The success of Saturday’s historic release has vindicated Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Gumi about what the power of mediation can achieve.
“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 Gumi.
“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 sacrificed 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 in the release of these seven victims.
“In whatever I do, I don’t need or require any reward from anybody, but from Allah. I hope the nation will sacrificed our lives before it recognize us.
“The seven rescued victims have been handed over to the military and are now on their way to Kaduna.
He thanked the Kaduna military GOC for the support he gave during the rescue mission.
“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 GCO 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.
“I will never involve myself on any issue that has to do with money.
“I am also under serious watch. I am sure if they have evidence against me, I cannot be talking freely the manner I used to do.
“However, this is no time for blame-game. We must come together as a nation to confront our challenges.
“I pray and hope that government will learn a lot of lessons in the development of today. We thank Allah that He uses us to make many happy.”
While the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed that 22 passengers on the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna shuttle train attacked by terrorists, Monday night of March 28, were abducted by the attackers, it also disclosed that 8 people were killed and 26 others injured in the attack, with over 100 unaccounted for.
The corporation later added that the number of safe passengers had risen to 186.
The ill-fated Kaduna-bound train, which left Abuja 6pm on the fateful day in March, was attacked by suspected terrorists around 7.45 pm, with just 15 minutes drive left for it to arrive Kaduna.
The terrorist had reportedly planted explosives believed to be IEDs on the rail track around Katari, Kaduna state which caused the Kaduna-bound train to derail from track.
It was gathered that the train which took off around 6 pm from the Idu train station at the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja hit an explosive device about 30 minutes to Rigasa train station in Kaduna.
Last April 13, the Federal Government had assured that it was on top of the situation, but only in June was the second batch of passengers freed after the initial release of one of the hostages captured during the train attack, the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Ali-Hassan, who was freed after his family reportedly paid N100 million as ransom, even as the terrorists claimed he was released as ‘we felt pity on him because of the month of Ramadan.’