The remaining twenty-three victims kidnapped during the March 28, 2022 train attack in Kaduna State have regained their freedom.
Their release was confirmed in a statement issued by the Secretary of the Chief of Defence Staff Action Committee, Usman Yusuf, on Wednesday, in Abuja.
Yusuf said that the hostages were released at about 4 pm on Wednesday.
In his words, “I am pleased to announce to the nation and the world that at 600Hrs. (4:00pm) today, Wednesday 5-10-2022, the seven-man Presidential Committee assembled by the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General L E O Irabor, secured the release and took custody of all the 23 remaining passengers, held hostage, by Boko Haram Terrorists following the attack on the Abuja to Kaduna train on 28-3-2022.
“The nation owes a debt of gratitude to the Nigerian Military under the leadership of the CDS who conceived and guided the operation from start to finish. All sister Security Agencies and the Federal Ministry of Transportation contributed immensely to this Operation.
“The unwavering support of the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is What made it all possible.
“Members of this Committee are grateful for the rare honour and privilege to be part of this Humanitarian Operation.
“May God Almighty Heal our Wounds and Bring Peace to Our Land”.
It would be recalled that the terrorists, who attacked the AK9 Train in Kaduna, had before now released hostages in batches with the last release being on August 19, 2022.
The insurgents had blown up the rail track and bombed the moving train, killing some and abducting more than 60 passengers. The unprecedented attack had attracted international and national outrage.
Distraught family members had protested several times to demand the release of their loved ones.
Worried about the situation, the Nigeria Railway Corporation temporarily suspended activities, with President Muhammadu Buhari directing security agencies to rescue the victims after he met their families.
The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, had said the Abuja-Kaduna rail line will not resume until all those kidnapped by bandits in March are rescued and reunited with their families.
It would be recalled that a terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu, was on September 6, 2022, arrested in Cairo, Egypt while on his way to Saudi Arabia and returned to Nigeria the next day.
The Department of State Services had alleged that Mamu, who negotiated between terrorists and families of kidnap victims, was part of an international terrorist network and used the cover of journalism to perpetrate his deeds.
