The Ansaru terrorists group, which claimed to have abducted the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers in March, has again threatened to kill one of the remaining 50 victims daily, if federal government refused to be forthcoming on their release.
The deadline expired 12 midnight Thursday.
This is just as families, relatives and friends of the remaining 50 abducted train passengers held peaceful street protest in Kaduna on Wednesday, to drive home their demand for the immediate release of the train attack victims.
The go-between negotiating for the release of the 50 victims between the Federal Government and the terrorists, Malam Tukur Mamu days ago raised an alarm over the health condition of the victims, noting that they are suffering from snake bite and prone to other health challenges. Mamu later confirmed that one of the victims was shot as a warning to hasten Federal Government’s response to their demands.
However, an audio clip in circulation, believed to be a voice of one of the Ansaru group members, they have again threatened to kill the victims because the government has failed to move for their release.
Tukur, the Kaduna based publisher, confirmed on Wednesday that the audio was real and that the group had fixed Wednesday (today) to carry out the threat. “They became provoked on Monday after giving us another opportunity. I was crying and pleading with them that since there is a delay from the government, they should discuss with the family members directly to negotiate the victims’ release.
“Based on the plea, they agreed to negotiate directly with the victims’ families. But they said they are giving us till Wednesday, that if there was nothing concrete from those that are interested in the negotiation, they will start slaughtering some of the victims,” he said.
Meanwhile, the families and friends of the victims converged on Nagwamatse House, Kaduna as early as 7:30am on Wednesday morning with various placards with different inscriptions calling for the immediate release of the remaining 50 abducted train passengers. At exactly 8:05am, the protesters stormed the major Kaduna streets with placards carrying various messages, while chanting, “release our loved ones”.
Addressing journalists after the protest, leader of the forum of families, Dr Abdulfatai Jimoh said: “Today is exactly 100 days since our loved ones were abducted, it was meant to be a journey of two hours, however, it turned out to be 100 harrowing days. Since then things have not been the same with us. One cannot imagine what our loved ones are going through in these last 100 days in the deep forest, the same clothes, no clean water to drink, no medical care.
“Many of them are sick, one has even been shot and injured, we don’t know his condition now. We have been talking to the government we have been appealing to them in the last 100 days to rescue our loved ones, but so far we have not seen much. It is really very disappointing. we are appealing again to the government to do all that is necessary to bring out our loved ones in the shortest time possible.
“If you remember, our loved ones spent their Easter in the bush, the Eid-el-Fitr in the bush. Today we are just three days away from Eid-el-Kabir. We are praying that they will spend the Eid-el-Kabir with us.This is our hope and prayer. We want the government to do all that is necessary. We know it is possible. They can do it, they should do it please.”
Speaking further, Jimoh noted that, “it is a responsibility they owed us as Nigerian citizens. We are citizens in our country. We should be free to move everywhere. We should be protected. We have surrendered our sovereignty. We have surrendered our security to the government and it is incumbent on them to do what is necessary to protect us. Our loved ones are in captivity for 100 days now, we are appealing to Mr President and his security chiefs to do what is necessary within their powers.
“We know they can do it, and should do it for us please in the name of God. We are all vulnerable to this situation. We are expecting them in the next few hours by the special grace of God not even days. We know they are on it. They should conclude it,” he lamented.
