No fewer than seven passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna bound train abducted by terrorists on March 28, 2022, have regained freedom.
The victims regained freedom after more than 100 days in the terrorists’ captivity.
The release of the victims was confirmed by the Publisher of Desert Herald, who served as a mediator between the terrorists and the Federal Government, Tukur Mamu, on Saturday.
Mamu, who is the Media Consultant to popular Kaduna Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gumi, said he secured the release of the seven abductees through his singular efforts.
Those released by the terrorists include Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule, and Sadiq Ango Abdullahi.
Others are Muhammad Daiyabu Paki, Aliyu Usman, and the only foreign national of Pakistani origin, Dr. Muhammad Abuzar Afzal.
Speaking on the development, Mamu said: “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 these 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 these 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 these 7 victims.
“In whatever I do I don’t need or require any reward from anybody but from Allah but I hope the nation we sacrificed our lives for will recognize us”.
Mamu said the 7 rescued victims have been handed over to the military and are now on their way to Kaduna.
He further thanked the Kaduna military GOC for the support during the rescue mission, saying: “The location they (abductors) gave is remote, sensitive and risky. There was a military checkpoint before penetrating the forest.
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“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.”
When asked whether money was involved in securing the release of the victims, Mamu said: “the 7 rescued victims are in the best position to confirm that. Money cannot achieve what I have done today. And I will never involve myself in 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.”
Mamu has also pleaded with the families of the remaining victims to actively engage the government to secure the release of their loved ones, stressing that he will not be involved in the “risky mission” again.
This is coming barely a month after the terrorists released 11 abducted train passengers.
The Star had reported that the 11 abductees released by the terrorists comprised six females and five males.
Mamu, who spoke to The Star on the release of the victims, disclosed that Gumi was influential in the release of the abducted train passengers.
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