Terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound train on Wednesday March 28, 2022, released seven more hostages, including a family of six and a woman, The PUNCH reports.
The identities of the family of six are father, Abdubakar Garba; his wife, Maryam; and his 10-year-old son, Ibrahim; Fatima (7); Imran (5); and Zainab, who is one and a half years old.
Garba, who is a staff member of the National Assembly Service Commission, is the son of a former military administrator in Kano and Benue States.
Also released was a 60-year-old woman, Aisha Hassan, who was said to have been released due to life-threatening health problems that worsened recently.
Although Tukur Mamu, Kaduna-based editor of Desert Herald and media consultant to controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, confirmed the release of the seven hostages to journalists in Kaduna, however, in a statement, he said they be freed after Gumi’s intervention.
The statement read in part: “Disturbed by the gory video footage of four teenage boys belonging to the same family he saw in the latest video released by the AK9 train attackers, Gumi, for the first time since the kidnapping of the innocent passengers of that train more than four months ago, he contacted the kidnappers through his media consultant and sent them the messages of Allah and constantly begged them to consider releasing the poor children and their innocent parents.
“It was learned that the health condition of two of the children has deteriorated since the flogging incident which affected their helpless father. Therefore, a total of seven additional hostages were released on Wednesday.
“The husband of the four children is a NASC staff member. There was no intervention from the commission or NASS on his behalf since the work began.
“This is to confirm to the world that due to the efforts of Sheikh Gumi and with the support of a serving northern senator, (a God-fearing personality who has no relation to the hostages) that he chose to remain anonymous, the family of six regained freedom 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 problems that have recently deteriorated.”
The PUNCH, earlier reported that on March 28, 2022, terrorists planted explosive devices along the train track and when the Abuja-Kaduna bound AK-9 passenger train approached the spot, the device went off explode, killing eight passengers.
Ango Abdullahi’s family
Meanwhile, terrorists on Tuesday night invaded Yakwada village in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnapped the daughter-in-law of the convener of the Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi; his four children and others.
A security guard is said to have died in the process.
The daughter-in-law, Ramatu Samsila, is married to Yakawada village chief, Alhaji Rilwan Saudu, who is the son of Abdullahi’s elder brother, a former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Kaduna State.
Our correspondent learned that the thugs also kidnapped some residents of the village head.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said: “Some residents of the area were also injured. I think they should be at the Ahmadu Bello University Hospital at the moment receiving treatment .
“The terrorist gang made off with more than nine residents of the area. It is unfortunate. Remember one of Prof’s sons was among the passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna train kidnapped in March and he was just recently released and his eldest son, Isah, died not long ago and now his daughter-in-law and children.”
At the time of filing this report, neither the state government nor the state police command had confirmed the attack.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, did not answer a call made to his phone line or respond to a text message sent to him at the time of filing this report.
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