It would be recalled that the Abuja-Kaduna bound train was attacked along Katari on 28th March, 2022. The attack was well planned and coordinated making it undetected by security agencies, but creating a big havoc on the rail line and the train itself especially the motor coaches. Some passengers lost their lives, many were abducted and many more injured.
It will be exactly two months by the end of the month, May, since the unfortunate but avoidable attack happened. The story is all gloom for the abducted passengers who spent Easter, the whole of the holy month of Ramadan and Eid in the hands of the abductors.
As Federal Government continue to loose hundred of millions of Naira in revenues from the suspended rail business, it is an established fact that there is no guarantee of passengers’ safety on the rail line until there is a resolution to this looming and persistent crisis.
The abductors, who contacted Malam Mamu through the phone said, Malam Mamu is the only person they can trust in the media industry and urged him to convey their message exactly as stated to the Federal Government, families of the victims and Nigerians in general.
In a series of telephone conversations with Malam Mamu, they abductors started by stating that the Federal Government has contacted them on how to secure the release of the abducted passengers but there seem to be insincerity on the part of the government putting the lives of the passengers at risk.
They added that the Federal Government suspended the resumption of the train service because of their threats,”the government suspended the resumption of the train service indefinitely because of our threats and we repeat, if our conditions are not met, the resumption of the train service is to the detriment of the government and the passengers”.
“We don’t need money. We have a good reason for doing what we did until our demands are met none of the victims will come out alive even if it means we all die with them. They are well taken care of as you can see from the pictures we sent to you via WhatsApp but we assure you that this will not continue”.
“We choose you (Tukur Mamu) to convey this important message to the government, the families of the victims and Nigerians in general because we believe you won’t alter our message and we have seen you severally with Sheikh Gumi in the forest, therefore, we recognized the fearlessness in you”.
The leader of the team, who simply gave his name to DESERT HERALD as Abu Barra further stated that it’s been two months since the abduction and anything can happen to the abducted passengers henceforth.
“The names of our children are; Abdulrahman, Bilkisu, Usman, Ibrahim and Juwairiyyah. They were forcefully taken from our wives in Nasarawa and taken to the orphanage in Yola”.
“For any continued discussion on the release of these passengers and a safe resumption of the train service, our children must be released unconditionally. Only then we will release some of the abducted victims especially the women while other passengers will be released on a prisoner exchange with some of our arrested comrades by the government, he continued.
Abu Barra added that the exclusive pictures of the passengers sent to DESERT HERALD are among some of the pictures they sent to the negotiation team of the government as proof of the well being of the victims. They said since then the government had been lacklustre.
Barra said they decided to come to a GSM enabled location with one of the female victims to talk to Malam Mamu and as a confirmation of their claims. Mamu said he could hear her cries with a very low voice that probably indicates exhaustion pleading with him to please talk to the government on their behalf for a swift intervention on their release.
The leader of the abductors further warned that, if within seven days the government does not respond to their demands, they will stop feeding the victims and will start slaughtering them one after the other and if the government doesn’t respond after that, then Nigerians should forget using the Abuja-Kaduna rail line as well as the Kaduna-Abuja high way.
“Therefore, we rely on you and urged you to convey this important message to everyone”, Abu Barra concluded.
Responding, Malam Tukur Mamu explained that he understands the predicament of the government in resolving the abduction imbroglio but stated that every responsible government will look into saving innocent passengers lives and make painful compromises where necessary even if it’s against the policy of the administration.
Malam Mamu then explained that, prisoner exchange with known criminals on matters of national interest is a global practice and has happened in many developed countries like the United States. He stressed the need to avoid any military action that will lead to collateral damage and loss of innocent lives.
“Time is not on our side, the government must understand that they are dealing with persons on a misguided ideology and tainted religious belief. These people are not scared of death, they seem to believe that they are martyrs when they die. It will be a serious mistake to take this threat lightly. I believe an opportunity has been created for us to explore to save the lives of those innocent victims.
For me, if this innocent victims will regain their freedom because of my involvement and provided that will lead to relative peace and security on our highways and rail lines I wouldn’t mind if I die in the process. We must accept the fact that security alone the Abuja-Kaduna highways remains more fragile than ever and the solution is not militarily alone especially in a country where impending attacks can hardly be dictated and stopped”, he stressed.
