Train attack: Abducted pregnant woman delivers in captivity

One of the two pregnant women among the passengers abducted by terrorists, following an attack on the Abuja-Kaduna bound train on March 28, 2022, has been delivered of a baby in captivity.

Since the abduction of the train passengers, the terrorists have released videos and pictures showing the abductees in captivity.

The kidnapped victims, in one of the videos, called on the Federal Government to come to their rescue.

The gunmen further threatened to kill the abductees if the Federal Government did not meet their demands.

Arise Television quoted the assailants as insisting that they were not after a ransom, but an exchange of the abducted passengers with their commanders who are allegedly in government custody.

The relatives of the victims later appealed to the government to ensure the release of their loved ones from captivity, but the abductees have not regained freedom.

However, one of the pregnant women among the kidnapped train passengers was quoted by a family source as having given birth over the weekend.

According to Arise, the woman, who was said to be eight months pregnant at the time of the attack, gave birth safely after the terrorists were said to have invited the medical personnel to attend to her.

The state of health of the baby is however unknown.

“According to reports by family sources, she gave birth with the aid of doctors brought in by the terrorists. We can also report that the terrorists are demanding the release of their top commanders in exchange for the abducted train passengers.

“According to sources, the terrorists are Kanuri speaking, suggesting that were from the North-east region and backed by the deadly Islamic state group- ISWAP,” the Arise report noted.

The Star had reported that suspected terrorists, on Monday, March 28, 2022, attacked a Kaduna-bound train, few kilometres to Kaduna metropolis.

The train departed Abuja at about 6 p.m. and was expected to arrive Kaduna 8 p.m.

But the train was attacked at about 7.45 p.m.

Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said that as of April 4, 2022, 191 out of the 362 validated passengers on board the train were confirmed safe at their various homes, while 22 people were reported missing by their relatives and eight persons confirmed dead.

The Star