From:Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna Train on Wednesday released seven more hostages, including a family of six.
The released hostages include; a 60-year-old woman, one Hajia Aisha Hassan, the six family members, Abubakar Idris Garba (father), his wife Maryama Abubakar Bobbo, and their children; Ibrahim Abubakar Garba, 10, Fatima Abubakar Garba, 7, Imran Abubakar Garba, 5 and Zainab Abubakar Garba 1.
The publisher of Desert Herald newspaper, Mal Tukur Mamu who confirmed the hostages’ release to journalists in Kaduna, also released their photographs and confirmed the identity of the victims.
He said Sheikh Gumi had after seeing the recent video where the victims were being flogged intervened and pleaded with the abductors to release the family of six, as two of their children were seriously sick.
Mamu however said that the 60 year old Aisha Hassan was released due to life-threatening health challenges, which got deteriorated recently.
According to Mamu, “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 time since the abduction of the innocent passengers of that train over 4 months ago, reached out to the abductors through me. He 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 have deteriorated since the flogging incidence that affected their helpless father. The father of the four kids is a staff of the National Assembly Commission.
“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 this morning.
“Also released is a 60-year-old woman, Hajia Aisha Hassan who was said to have been released due to life-threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.
“The names of the six family members that were released are Abubakar Idris Garba who is the father of the four kids, his wife Maryama Abubakar Bobbo, and their eldest son, Ibrahim Abubakar Garba who is 10 years old. Others include Fatima Abubakar Garba 7 years, Imran Abubakar Garba 5 years old, and youngest Zainab Abubakar Garba who is only one and half years.
“Abubakar is the son of Maj Gen Idris Garba (rtd). Gen. Garba who is now bedridden is an indigene of Niger State and was a former Military Administrator of Kano and Benue States during the administration of former Head Of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida,” Mamu said.
He said Sheikh Gumi also prayed for the immediate release of the remaining victims and urged the government to intensify efforts towards achieving that.
“Sheikh Gumi said the delay in releasing the remaining victims is unnecessary and one that is achievable once the right approach has been taken.”
The terrorists have since after the attack continued to release the kidnapped passengers in batches beginning with the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Ali-Hassan, followed by another set of 11, set of seven, set of four, set of five and now seven, makes it a total of 36 of the passengers released so far, leaving about 27 others still in captivity.
