Malam Tukur Mamu, one of the negotiators and Media Consultant to a controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, on Saturday said that seven more passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna bound AK9 train attacked abducted by terrorists on March 28, 2022, had been released.
It is now more than 100 days since bandits attacked the train and abducted the victims. They remained in the custody of the terrorists until their release this Saturday.
Mumu, who said he singularly negotiated the release of the seven victims, listed their names as Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule and Sadiq Ango Abdullahi.
Other passengers released were Muhammad Daiyabu Paki, Aliyu Usman and a foreign national of Pakistani origin, Dr Muhammad Abuzar Afzal.
Mumu had earlier negotiated the release of 11 of the victims. Last week he announced he was withdrawing from negotiating with the terrorists due to the government alleged lackadaisical attitude.
However, he said he had to return to the negotiating table with the bandits because of immense pressure and appeal by the relations and loved ones of the victims.
He told newsmen in Kaduna that the “success of Saturday’s historic release has vindicated Sheikh Dr Ahmad Gumi about what the power of mediation can achieve.”
He further said, “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 emphasising that government has the power to end the agony of this innocent victim in one day.
“This is just one individual that sacrifices his life and even integrity. There is no military solution to the current security debacle in Nigeria. When you sincerely engage them, these guys even though wicked with misguided religious beliefs, 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 but I hope the nation we sacrificed our lives for will recognize us.
“The seven rescued victims have been handed over to the military and are now on their way to Kaduna. I thank the Kaduna military GOC for the support he gave during the rescue 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. And after the victims were successfully evacuated, travelling over 40 kilometres in the forest, they were given a military escort back to Kaduna at the checkpoint.
“Despite the poor medical condition of many of the rescued victims, those that took over are unnecessarily wasting their time in a military unit on the outskirts of Kaduna. I advise that authorities should hasten the effort to take them to a medical facility for urgent evaluation.
“The seven rescued victims are in the best position to confirm …… Money cannot achieve what I have done today. And I will never involve myself in any issue that has to do with money. I am also under serious watch. I am sure if they have evidence against me I cannot be talking freely in the manner I used to do.
“However, this is no time for the blame game. We must come together as a nation to confront our challenges. I pray and hope that government will learn a lot of lessons in the development of today. We thank Allah that He uses us to make many happy.
“I’m pleading with the families of the remaining victims to actively engage the government to secure the release of their loved ones. I will not be involved in such a risky mission again.”