Six of the 62 persons held by terrorists, following the March 28, 2022 attack on an Abuja-Kaduna train, have called on the Federal Government and international community to facilitate their release.
The call was contained in a new video released by the terrorists in Kaduna, yesterday. The appeal came as the terrorists threatened to stop feeding the victims and start slaughtering them if within seven days the Federal Government does not meet their demands.
A turbaned member of the terrorist group who appeared in military camouflage, armed with an AK 47, was seen in the video asking the abductees to speak one after the other.
Findings revealed that the video emerged 48 hours after the group gave the ultimatum, which sought the release of eight children held by the Nigerian military in Jimeta, Adamawa State.
One of the victims said: “The government of Kaduna State, Federal Government and the international community should come to our aid and give the kidnappers what they want, so that they would let us go. We are 62 people.”
THIS was as families of the victims, in Abuja, yesterday, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, service chiefs and heads of security agencies to meet the demands of the abductors and save their loved ones.
They carried placards with various inscriptions demanding urgent action before it gets too late. Addressing a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre, Matilda Kabiru Muhammed, whose husband is among the abductees, said: “The shocker is the one which prompted this afternoon address. The past 58 days have been of unprecedented agony. Although hopeful of seeing our loved ones again, yesterday took the wind out of our sails. Whatever hope we have been holding on to, seems to be slipping through our fingers.”
She pleaded: “There can be no negotiation without dialogue. Do not close the chapter on our story; it will forever change the course of history. Release their children. Let us have our family and your family back. Do not turn a blind eye on our plight.”
A security analyst and publisher of NewsmakersNG, Dipo Kehinde, who analysed the situation, said the abductors were not making an empty threat.
He said: “You don’t want to dare terrorists threatening to start killing Nigerians held captive, do you? It’s not an empty threat; they will do whatever they are threatening to do.” He added: “No matter how long it takes, the criminals will still meet their Waterloo.”
