The terrorists who abducted some of the Abuja to Kaduna train passengers following an attack last March today released seven additional victims, New Citizen has learnt.
They included a family of six and a 60-year-old woman.
Publisher of the Desert Herald newspaper, Malam Tukur Mamu, announced the development in a press statement he sent to the New Citizen today.
He disclosed that the release of the victims was facilitated by the renown Kaduna cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.
Mamu, who serves as Gumi’s media consultant, said the cleric was moved to act after he was “disturbed by the gory videos images of four teenage children belonging to same family he saw in the last video released by the attackers of the AK9 train.”
He said this was “the first (time) since the abduction of the innocent passengers of that train over 4 months ago” that Gumi “reached out to the abductors through his media consultant, sent Allah’s messages to them and consistently pleaded with them to consider the release of the poor children and their innocent parents.”
“It was learnt that the health condition of two of the teenage children has deteriorated since the flogging incidence that affected their helpless father,” he said.
According to him, the family consisted of a man, Abubakar Idris Garba, his wife Maryama Abubakar Bobbo and their four children – Ibrahim, who is 10 years old; Fatima, 7; Imran, 5, and Zainab who is one and a half years old.
Abubakar Idris Garba is a staff of the National Assembly Commission, Mamu said, adding, “There was no intervention from the commission or NASS on his behalf since the travails began.”
He is the son of Major-Gen. Idris Garba (rtd), the Military Administrator of Kano and Benue states during the Babangida administration.
Mamu further gave the name of 60-year-old woman as Hajiya A’isha Hassan and said she was released “due to life threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.”
Mamu said Gen. Garba, an indigene of Niger State, is now bed-ridden, apparenrly due to an illness.
The publisher said Gumi was supported in his bid for the release of the seven by a serving senator from the North, “a God-fearing personality that doesn’t have any relationship with the hostages” and “who chose to remain anonymous.”
He added: “Sheikh Gumi had also prayed for the immediate release of the remaining victims and urged government to intensify efforts towards achieving that.
“He said the delay in releasing the remaining victims is unnecessary and one that is achievable once the right approach has been taken.”
