TRAIN ATTACKS: On Wednesday afternoon (August 10, 2022) 7 more train hostages were set free from the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train hijack.
Clariform reporter have gathered from reliable media sources that “General Idris Garba’s son, Abubakar, his wife, and four children” were among the most recent hostages released by the kidnapers.
Basic Facts
- This new release is coming after 121 days when terrorists abducted passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train.
- With the release of the third batch of victims, 40 victims are still in the custody of the terrorists, having earlier set free 18 victims.
- According to unconfirmed information, “they paid N200 million” to regain their freedom from the kidnaper`s den.
What We Know
Bandits/terrorists have released seven more victims of the March Abuja-Kaduna train train attack
The seven released victims are a family of six and a woman.
The identities of the released family of six are Abdubakar Idris Garba, his wife, Maryam Abubakar Bobo, and their eldest son, Ibrahim Abubakar Garba, who’s 10 years old. The others include Fatima Abubakar Garba (7), Imran Abubakar Garba (5), and youngest Zainab Abubakar Garba, who is only one and half years old.
Abubakar Idris Garba, a staff of the National Assembly Service Commission, is the son of a former Military Administrator of Kano and Benue States.
Also released is a 60-year-old woman, one Hajia Aisha Hassan, who was said to have been released due to life-threatening ailment.
With this latest release, 44 victims have been released while 28 are still in captivity.
Tukur Mamu, Publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald and Media Consultant to Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has confirmed the release of the seven hostages to journalists in Kaduna.
Mamu said the seven were released following the effort of Sheikh Gumi. Recall that Tukur Mamu has announced his withdrawal after the release of the last five.
Notable Quotes
According to a security source who pleaded anonymity
“What I can tell you now is that the bandits have freed seven more abducted Abuja-Kaduna train passengers.”
Catch-up
Recall that Clariform had earlier reported that on March 28, 2022, terrorists planted explosives devices along the rail track and when the Abuja-Kaduna bound the AK-9 passenger train approached the point, the device exploded, causing the train to derail, leading to the death of eight passengers.
It’s almost five months since the Abuja-Kaduna train attack happened. Since then victims have been released in batches, while their family agonisingly await their return. Though government assured the citizens of working to release the victims, non of the release thus far recorded can be credited to the government.
Takeaway
These families can now heave a sigh of relief, even as the process of rehabilitation begins. For the families whose loved ones are still held captive, the long wait continues. However, the unanswered questions probes on.
For the government and the Nigerian state, the hopelessness of the security challenges and near helplessness of the security agencies continue to paint their scorecard red.
For critical citizens, we can not but keep urging the state to up her games in terms of security lives and properties, ensure criminal elements in the society are kept out of circulation as this is a sure way to inspire confidence in the citizens and foreign investors.
