Nigerian Military Secures Release Of Abducted Train Passengers

By Ayodele Oni

With the self-appointed abducted victims negotiator, Tukur Mamu out of the way and safely in the custody of the Directorate of State Services, DSS, it is freedom at last for the remaining 23 Abuja-Kaduna  train passengers trapped in terrorists enclave for almost eight months. The Nigerian Military has safely secured their release.

They were released at about 4.00pm on Wednesday.

The terrorists had on March  28th 2022; successfully attacked the train with explosives and fire power. They killed eight of the passengers, and abducted 68 of them.

Since then, they have been releasing the hostages in batches with Mamu, Media Consultant to controversial Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Ahmad Gumi, as the self-appointed negotiator. Each of the released hostage paid, allegedly, the sum of N100m.

However, Mamu was arrested by the INTERPOL a couple of weeks ago at the Cairo International Airport, Egypt, on his way to Saudi Arabia, in the company of his two wives

Shipped back to Nigeria on the next available flight, he walked into the hands of the waiting operatives of the DSS at the Kano International Airport. He has since been under investigation, and according to the DSS, investigations, so far, show that Mamu was, allegedly, working in connivance with terrorists.

A statement issued by the Secretary, Chief of Defence Staff Action Committee (CDSAC), Prof. Usman Yusuf, said their release was secured on Wednesday.

The statement reads: “I am pleased to announce to the nation and the world that at 1600Hrs. (4:00pm) today, Wednesday 5-10-2022, the seven-man Presidential Committee assembled by the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General L E O Irabor, secured the release and took custody of all the 23 remaining passengers held hostage by Boko Haram Terrorists following the attack on the Abuja to Kaduna train on 28-3-2022.

“The nation owes a debt of gratitude to the Nigerian Military under the leadership of the CDS who conceived and guided the operation from start to finish.

“All sister Security Agencies and the Federal Ministry of Transportation contributed immensely to this Operation.

“The unwavering support of the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is what made it all possible.

“Members of this Committee are grateful for the rare honour and privilege to be part of this Humanitarian Operation.”