AFRICA/NIGERIA – The remaining 23 hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack released after more than 6 months

AFRICA/NIGERIA – The 23 remaining hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train bomb attack have been released after more than 6 years

Abuja (Agenzia Fides – The 23 remaining hostages held by terrorists who attacked Abuja-Kaduna’s train on March 28, have been released (see Fides, 30/3/2022). According to Nigerian authorities this was confirmed by them. The hostages were released on October 5th, through an unspecified military operation. A spokesperson for the families of victims of the train attack stated that they had not paid ransom for their loved ones’ release.
According to local media, nine passengers were killed during the attack on the Abuja–Kaduna railway train. At least 168 people were reported as missing. 63 of these passengers were taken by the attackers.
Before the release the remaining 23 hostages, 40 hostages were freed in groups. Others were released after paying ransoms totaling hundreds of millions of Naira.
Tukur Mamu was the intermediary who helped victims’ families negotiate with terrorists. He was on his way to Saudi Arabia to perform a minor Hajj. This was on a mandate by the Nigerian authorities. The Department of State Services (DSS), which extradited him to Nigeria, has taken him into custody on charges of collusion and support for “local and international terrorists”.
Kidnapping is now a real crime industry in Nigeria, with many priests and religious being victims. Activity committed by purely criminal organizations and others for terrorist ends, which affects all three regions of the Federation.
It is an activity that never ceases, as demonstrated by the kidnapping of 20 people in the villages Danzamau and Dargaje, in the north-western state Zamfara.
The attacks took place in Bukuyum’s two villages as the villagers were getting ready to pray their morning prayers. The attack went on for several hours without security forces intervening. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 7/10/2022)

Share: