The terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers who were kidnapped on March 28 have released seven hostages including a family of six and an old woman.
According to Tukur Mamu, the Publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald and Media Consultant to an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, the seven were released following the intervention of his principal.
Meanwhile, the identities of the released family of six are Abdubakar Idris Garba, his wife, Maryam Abubakar Bobo, and their eldest son, Ibrahim Abubakar Garba, who’s 10 years old.
Others include Fatima Abubakar Garba (7), Imran Abubakar Garba (5), and youngest Zainab Abubakar Garba, who is only one and half years old.
Punch revealed that Abubakar Idris Garba, a staff of the National Assembly Service Commission, is the son of a former Military Administrator of Kano and Benue States.
Also released is a 60-year-old woman, one Hajia Aisha Hassan, who was said to have been released due to life-threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.
According to a statement by Mamu, Sheikh Gumi was disturbed after seeing the videos of the terrorists flogging the hostages so he reached out for the first time to the terrorists.
He also revealed that neither the National Assembly Commission nor the members of the National Assembly intervened for the staff of the commission and his family.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mamu stated that the efforts of Sheikh Gumi and the support of a serving Senator from the North, the family of six regained their freedom.
The statement read partly, “Disturbed by the gory videos images of four teenage children belonging to the same family he saw in the last video released by the attackers of the AK9 Train, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Gumi for the first since the abduction of the innocent passengers of that train over four months ago, has reached out to the abductors through his Media Consultant, sent Allah’s messages to them and consistently pleaded with them to consider the release of the poor children and their innocent parents.
“It was learnt that the health condition of two of the teenage children has deteriorated since the flogging incidence that affected their helpless father. A total of additional seven hostages were therefore released on Wednesday.
“The husband of the four kids is a staff of the National Assembly Commission. There was no intervention from the Commission or NASS on his behalf since the travails began.
“This is to confirm to the world that due to Sheikh Gumi’s efforts and with the support of a serving Senator from the North (a God-fearing personality that doesn’t have any relationship with the hostages) who chose to remain anonymous that all the family of six have regained their freedom on Wednesday morning.
“Also released is a 60-year-old woman, one Hajia Aisha Hassan, who was said to have been released due to life-threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.
“Sheikh Gumi had also prayed for the immediate release of the remaining victims and urged the government to intensify efforts towards achieving that. He said the delay in releasing the remaining victims is unnecessary and one that is achievable once the right approach has been taken.”
However, there was no statement on the ransom paid to effect the release of the hostages.
Credit: Desert Herald
