Captives may not leave here alive, abductors of train passengers speak in new video

Terrorists who abducted passengers on a Kaduna-bound train have released yet another video.

Six passengers, including a Pakistani, were seen in the footage.

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The victims, who were obviously traumatised, appealed to the government to come to their aid.

“My name is Mohammed, I’m working here in Nigeria, but a foreign national, a Pakistani. We were abducted from the Abuja-Kaduna train on 28 March. We are here; 62 in number.”

“The conditions are not very good.  I am appealing to the government of Nigeria; the government of Pakistan and the international community to help us,” one of the victims said.

Another passenger, Mohammed Dehu, also appealed to the government to accede to the demands of the abductors.

The terrorists, who accused the government of being insincere, gave a five-day ultimatum for the release of some of their children whom they claimed were in custody.

Family members of the victims have made several appeals to the Federal Government to rescue their loved ones from captivity.

Last week, Special Assistant to President Muahmmadu Buhari on Media, Garba Shehu, said negotiations were ongoing to ensure the release of the victims.

He said, “We’re aware that there has been resistance from the family members of those who have been taken captive. Of course this is expected. This acts as a pressure on one of the people involved in the discussion with the terrorists to ensure a safe release of those that have been held.

“The position of government has been stated and restated over time that the success of any operation will be determined by the number of recoveries of human beings alive and well not the return of dead bodies. The government has spoken about the fact that negotiations are ongoing, although a bit difficult, but we hope that we return to normalcy.”

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had announced a resumption of activities on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, but it was later suspended indefinitely.