Terrorists Free Seven More Abducted Train Passengers

Seven of the remaining 39 abducted passengers of the March 28, Abuja-Kaduna train attack have been freed by their abductors.

Tukur Mamu, the Media Consultant to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric who has been in the forefront of mediating for the release of the victims, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna.

The statement said a total of seven hostages, which include a family of six, were released Wednesday morning.

Five hostages were earlier released on August 2.

With the release of the seven hostages, 32 others are still being held by the terrorists.

The statement said the release of the seven victims, which was “due to Gumi’s efforts”, with the support of a serving senator from the north who wishes to remain anonymous.

“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,” the statement said.

It added that also released was a 60-year-old woman by name Hajia Aisha Hassan, who was said to have been freed due to her life threatening health challenges.

The statement listed the names of the six family members as: Abubakar Idris Garba; his wife, Maryama Abubakar Bobbo; their four children — Ibrahim Abubakar Garba,10; Fatima Abubakar Garba, 7; Imran Abubakar Garba, 5; and the youngest, Zainab Abubakar Garba,1.

The statement said Abubakar, the head of the family, is the son of the bedridden Major General Idris Garba (rtd), an indigene of Niger State, who served as military administrator of Kano and Benue States during the military administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

It stated that Gumi prayed for the immediate release of the remaining victims and urged the government to intensify efforts towards securing