Kaduna train attackers release 90-ur-old victim, daughter, 2 others

Terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train, have released 90- year-old Halimatu Atta, her 53-year-old daughter, Adama Atta Aliyu and two other hostages.

Halimatu Atta is the oldest of the kidnapped victims from the AK-9 train, which came under the terrorists attack on March 28, 2022.

Malam Tukur Mamu, who announced the latest development on Friday evening, raised the alarm the youngest of the 23 hostages remaining in the terrorists’ captivity is at the risk of being married by one of the terrorists like Leah Sharibu.

Mamu, who was hitherto leading the negotiation between the abductors and the Federal Government, said one of the terrorists’ top commanders is in love with the 21- year-old hostage identified as Azurfa Lois John.

With the release of the latest four hostages, the terrorists have so far freed 40 of the 63 hostages, leaving 23 in captivity.

According to Mamu,:“I can confirm that earlier on Friday, four additional victims of the train attack were released by their abductors. The four released victims just left my office. They said they came collectively to thank me for the past efforts I made to mediate on their behalf and for convincing their abductors to drop the threats of executing them.

“They also came to plead with all stakeholders especially the federal government to intensify efforts as the condition of the remaining 23 victims they left at the forest is pathetic.

“Amongst those that were released on Friday includes the oldest victim, a grandmother, Mama Halimatu Atta. She is 90 years old. Also released is her daughter, 53 year old married woman, Adama Atta Aliyu, (the woman that was bravely shown in the last video protesting and challenging her captors and lamenting failure to secure their release).

“The victim that first suggested my name to the abductors, as one of those to be contacted to mediate between them and the federal government, Mohammed Sani Abdulmaji (M.S Ustaz) and a Sokoto indigene, Alhaji Modin Modi Bodinga were also released on Friday,” he said.

Speaking on the plan of the terrorists to marry one of the remaining hostages, Mamu said: “This is to alert the Federal Government and especially the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that I can confirm through credible information at my disposal that if urgent action is not taken to immediately secure the release of the youngest victim of the train attack, a 21 year old Azurfa Lois John, the abductors as they have done in the case of Leah Sharibu are planning to marry her any moment from now.

“One of the top commanders is said to be in love with her.

“This important information should be treated with the urgency it deserves. Even though I know that releasing this information will not only unsettle her immediate family and loved ones but Nigerians as a whole, it is necessary to do so to avoid the repeat of Leah Sharibu’s case.

“I advise CAN in particular not to politicise this issue or reduce it to mere press releases as I have seen in the past but to work closely with relevant authorities to engage the abductors on her case as soon as possible before it is late.

“I pray that in view of the uncertainties which is becoming alarming, the federal government will also act very fast to ensure the release of all the remaining victims,” Mamu said.

(ChannelsTV)