Kaduna-based publisher of the Desert Herald newspaper, Tukur Mamu, who also negotiated the release of 11 of the passengers abducted from a train in March, has disclosed that some of the victims still in captivity have been bitten by snakes.
Mamu disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna on Monday.
According to him, the forest where the captives are being held is infested with dangerous snakes.
He said many of these snakes usually appear at night to bite the captives.
Mamu said, “I can confirm to you that snakes are many in that forest. Some of them are victims of the snake bite as they appear frequently in the night. The victims only depend on local solution to treat it.
“The bite as we know can be life-threatening. Government is the only authority with the means and powers to end this crisis as soon as possible. And with the right approach, I can assure you it can be achieved within days or weeks. We have proven that in the release of the 11 victims.”
The negotiator added that lack of diagnosis and treatment worsened by poor nutrition and poor sanitary conditions make the captives vulnerable.
He, however, assured the family of the abducted victims that they were neither beaten nor molested in captivity, saying that the condition of the place they are being held is poor.