Seven kidnapped victims of the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train have regained their freedom.
A Kaduna-based publisher and Media Consultant to Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar, Mr. Tukur Mamu, negotiated the release of the kidnapped victims on Saturday.
Quest Times recalls that 11 kidnapped passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train were also released on March 28, 2022 following negotiations with Mr. Mamu.
Those released on Saturday include Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule and Sadiq Ango Abdullahi.
Other lucky passengers were Muhammad Daiyabu Paki, Aliyu Usman and the only foreign national of Pakistani origin, Dr. Muhammad Abuzar Afzal.
While speaking on the development, Mamu said the success of Saturday’s release of the victims has vindicated Sheikh Ahmad Gumi about what the power of mediation can achieve.
“I want to assure the nation that everything that was achieved today was singlehandedly initiated and arranged by me with the full support and prayers of my principal, Sheikh Gumi.
“That is why I keep emphasizing that government has the power to end the agony of these innocent victims in one day.
“This is just one individual that sacrificed his life and even integrity. There is no military solution to the current security debacle in Nigeria.
“When you sincerely engage these guys, even though wicked with misguided religious beliefs, they are listening. I have sufficient evidence to prove that they do listen. It is this power of engagement and sincerity that resulted in the release of these seven victims.
“In whatever I do, I don’t need or require any reward from anybody but from Allah and I hope the nation we sacrifice our lives for will recognise us,” Mamu said.
The negotiator added that the seven released victims have been handed over to the military and were now on their way to Kaduna.
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He appreciated the Kaduna Division 1 GOC for the support he gave during the negotiation mission.
“The location they (abductors) gave is remote, sensitive and risky. There was a military checkpoint before penetrating the forest.
“My team was stopped by the soldiers but when they told the military our mission, they contacted the GCO and he immediately gave approval for them to proceed,” he added.