Families of kidnapped train passengers protest in Kaduna

From: Femi  Oyelola, Kaduna

As kidnapped passengers of the attacked Kaduna-bound AK9 train spent 100 days in terrorists’ captivity on Wednesday, families, relatives and friends of the victims took to the streets of Kaduna in protest, demanding immediate rescue of the remaining 50 of their loved ones from abductors den.

This was as the abductors of the train passengers suspected to be members of the Ansaru terrorists group released a new audio, threatening to slaughter the 50 hostages in their custody.

The protesting family members who were also joined by some members of the civil society organizations kicked-off the protest from Nagwamatse House located along the busy Ali Akilu road, marched on to major streets in the metropolis chanting, “All we are saying, release our loved ones”.

The protesters also carried a banner and placards with different inscriptions calling for the immediate release of the remaining 50 abducted train passengers.

Leading the protest, Chairman of the family forum, Dr Abdulfatai Jimoh said, it is unfortunate that, a train journey of two hours from Abuja to Kaduna, has become a journey of 100 days.

He, however, appealed to the Federal Government that, the innocent Nigerians who spent both Easter and Eid-el-Fitr in terrorists’ captivity should not be left to witness Eid-el-Kabir in the abductors’ jungle.

According to him, “Today is exactly 100 days since our loved ones were abducted, it was meant to be a journey of two hours, however, it turned out to be 100 harrowing days. Since then things have not been the same with us.

“One cannot imaging what our loved ones are going through in this last 100 days in the deep forest- the same clothes, no clean water to drink, no medical care. Many of them are sick, one has even been shot and  injured, we don’t know his condition now.

“We have been talking to the government we have been appealing to them in the last 100 days to rescue our love ones, but so far we have not seen much.

Jimoh lamented, “it is really very disappointing. We are appealing again to the government to do all that is necessary to bring out our loved ones in the shortest time possible.

“If you remember our loved ones spent their Easter in the bush, the Eid Fitr in the bush. Today we are just three days away from Eid Kabir. We are praying they will spend the Eid Kabir with US. This is our hope and prayer.

He also said, “We want the government to do all that is necessary. We know is possible. They can do it, they should do it please.

Jimoh noted that, “it is a responsibility they owed us as Nigerian citizens. We are citizens in our country. We should be Free to move everywhere. We should be protected.

“We have surrendered our sovereignty. We have surrendered our security for the government and is incumbent on them to do what is necessary to protect us, our love ones are in captivity for 100 days now. We are appealing to Mr President and his security Chiefs to do what is necessary between their powers.

“We know they can do it, and should do it for us please in the name of God.

“We are all vulnerable to this situation. We are expecting them in the next few hours by the special grace of God not even days. We know they are on it. They should conclude it,”he said.

Meanwhile, the terrorists have threatened to slaughter the remaining 50 hostages in a new audio that, has gone viral on social media.

The terrorists had earlier made similar threats before the intervention of a Kaduna based politician and media consultant to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Malam Tukur Mamu who pleaded with the abductors for ceasefire.

The abductors later demanded release of eight of their children in the government’s custody in exchange for freedom of the abducted train passengers.

It was later gathered that, the children were released, by the terrorists freed only 11 of the 61 hostages with them at that time.

Days after the release of the 11, Tukur Mamu told journalists that that one of the remaining 50 victims was shot, as a warning to hasten the response to the agreement between the Federal Government and the bandits.

In the latest audio in circulation, which is believed to be a voice of one of the group members, they threatened to slaughter the victims because the government failed to seek for their release.

Mamu, confirmed the audio to a journalist on Kaduna Wednesday, saying that the audio was real and that the group had fixed Wednesday (today) to carry out the threat.

According to him, they became provoked on Monday after giving us another opportunity.

“I was crying and pleading with them that since there is a delay from the government, they should discuss with the family members directly to negotiate