Terrorists who attacked and abducted passengers of the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna bound train on March 28, have set free five more abductees, according to Malam Tukur Mamu, the media consultant to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.
The lucky five, who were released on Tuesday by the terrorists include Mustapha Umar Imam, a professor of Medicine at the Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Akibu Lawal, Abubakar Ahmed Rufai, Mukthar Shu’aibu and Sidi Aminu Sharif.
Confirming their release to journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday, the self-acclaimed lead negotiator and media consultant to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Malam Tukur Mamu, urged the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to hasten and negotiate the release of the remaining victims in captivity.
Mamu said those still in captivity were in very dangerous and precarious situation.
He also harped on the need for dialogue with the terrorists, insisting that there was nothing dialogue and negotiation could not achieve.
“In a situation where military force cannot work, dialogue would certainly work,” he said.
All the freshly released victims expressed gratitude to Allah and thanked Tukur Mamu for the role he had played while negotiating with their captors.
It is not yet clear if ransom was paid to the terrorists to secure the release of the abductees.
The security agencies and the federal government are yet to confirm the development as at the time of filing this report.
So far, 37 victims have regained their freedom. The number of those still in captivity now stands at 35.
Gunmen had on March 28 blown up the rail track, killing some and abducting scores of passengers.
Tuesday’s release is coming a few days after three other victims were freed after paying hundreds of millions of Naira as ransom.
The victims, who consist of two males and a female, secured their freedom on July 25.
Their release came shortly after the terrorists released a viral video where they were seen mercilessly flogging their victims. They also threatened to abduct President Buhari and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.
