Families paid N800m to secure release of 7 abducted train passengers

The abductors of the March 28 Abuja-Kaduna bound train passengers were paid N800 million to secure the release of the seven abductees, who regained freedom on Saturday, some families of the victims have disclosed.

It would be recalled that the terrorists, last Tuesday, sent an audio clip to the victims’ families threatening to kill the captives if the families failed to secure the release of the abductees.

No fewer than seven abducted train passengers, however, regained freedom on Saturday.

The development, which came barely a month after the terrorists released 11 abducted train passengers, was confirmed by the Publisher of Desert Herald, who served as a mediator between the terrorists and the Federal Government, Tukur Mamu.

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.

Mamu further 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.

He had earlier announced his withdrawal from negotiating with the terrorists due to the alleged government’s nonchalant attitude to the plight of the train abductees.

However, it was gathered that families of each of the six Nigerian victims paid N100 million, while the captors pegged the ransom for the Pakistani at N200 million which was also paid.

According to Daily Trust, sources disclosed that the terrorists collected the ransom in naira and US dollars.

“Only N200 million was collected in naira, the remaining N600 million was paid in the equivalent of US dollars,” one of the sources said.

Another source close to one of the released revealed: “All the families of the victims felt abandoned by the Federal Government and therefore had to pay for the release of their loved ones.

“The truth is that the FG is indifferent to our plight…Those in power don’t care if the captives are all killed.

“That is why we sold our property and raised the money. It is the same for the families of all those released. We all paid through our nose but Alhamdulillah, it is worth it.”

The Star

Segun Ojo