The Ansaru terrorist group, which claimed to have abducted the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers in March, has threatened to kill one of the remaining 50 victims every day if the federal government does not release them.
This comes as families, relatives, and friends of the remaining 50 abducted train passengers staged a peaceful street protest in Kaduna on Wednesday to press for the immediate release of the train attack victims.
Malam Tukur Mamu, the go-between negotiating the release of the 50 victims between the Federal Government and the terrorists, raised an alarm about the victims’ health condition a few days ago, noting that they are suffering from snake bites and are prone to other health challenges. Mamu later confirmed that one of the victims was shot as a warning to hasten the Federal Government’s response to their demands.
However, according to an audio clip believed to be the voice of one of the Ansaru group members, they have threatened to kill the victims again because the government has failed to move for their release.
Tukur, the Kaduna-based publisher, confirmed on Wednesday that the audio was genuine and that the group had planned to carry out the threat on Wednesday (today). “On Monday, they became agitated after giving us another chance.” I was crying and pleading with them that, given the government’s delay, they should speak directly with the victims’ families in order to negotiate their release.
“Based on the plea, they agreed to negotiate directly with the victims’ families.” But they told us that if we don’t hear anything concrete from those who are interested in negotiating by Wednesday, they will start slaughtering some of the victims,” he said.
Meanwhile, families and friends of the victims converged on Nagwamatse House in Kaduna as early as 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning with various placards bearing various inscriptions demanding the immediate release of the remaining 50 abducted train passengers. Protesters stormed the major Kaduna streets at 8:05 a.m., carrying placards with various messages and chanting “release our loved ones.”
Dr Abdulfatai Jimoh, leader of the Forum of Families, told journalists after the protest, “Today is exactly 100 days since our loved ones were abducted; it was supposed to be a two-hour journey, but it turned out to be 100 harrowing days.” Things haven’t been the same for us since then. One can only imagine what our loved ones have been through in the last 100 days in the deep forest, wearing the same clothes, without clean water to drink, and without medical care.
“Many of them are sick, and one has even been shot and injured; we don’t know his condition right now.” We’ve been talking to the government, and we’ve been pleading with them to save our loved ones for the last 100 days, but nothing has changed. It is extremely disappointing. We are once again appealing to the government to do everything possible to bring our loved ones home as soon as possible.
“Remember, our loved ones spent Easter and Eid-el-Fitr in the bush.” Today marks three days until Eid-el-Kabir. We hope they will join us for Eid-el-Kabir. This is our hope and prayer. We expect the government to go above and beyond. We know it’s possible. They can and should do it.”
In addition, Jimoh stated that “it is a responsibility they owed us as Nigerian citizens.” We are citizens of our country. We should be able to move freely anywhere. We should be protected. We have relinquished our authority. We have given up our security to the government, and it is their responsibility to protect us. Our loved ones have been held captive for 100 days, and we are pleading with Mr. President and his security chiefs to do everything in their power.
“We know they can do it, and they should do it for us in the name of God.” We are all vulnerable in this situation. By God’s special grace, we expect them within the next few hours, not days. We know they’re on it. “They should finish it,” he grumbled.
