While the government continues to investigate the issue of the kidnapped railway passengers and makes every effort to locate and return the 51 or so people still in custody,
President Muhammadu Buhari has stepped up efforts to free the remaining kidnapped railway passengers and bring the case to a close.
Following the President’s approval, rescue efforts are taking a two-lane approach, kinetic and non-kinetic, to ensure the captives’ safe release, according to Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement released on Tuesday.
According to Shehu, the kidnappers demanded the release of their own children, and once that issue was resolved, they released eleven of the victims, despite the fact that more were expected.
He added that the government is not leaving any stone unturned in its efforts to bring all hostages home, and that the Defense, Security, and Intelligence Agencies have pledged to step up operational engagements aimed at restoring peace across the country.
He noted that the federal government is also mindful of the efforts of some patriotic and influential persons and institutions that are helping in securing the safe release of the hostages.
President Buhari welcomed the return of the recently released passengers back to their families and loved ones while expressing his solemn commitment to the families of those still in captivity, assuring that there will be no let-up until they are reunited with their families in the shortest time possible.
”The President’s clear directive on the issue is that the hostages must be brought home alive. The country’s military and security agencies are aware of their duty to the nation and are determined to give effect to the President’s charge with increased urgency.
Recall that terrorists who attacked and kidnapped the 28 March 2022 Abuja-Kaduna bound train passengers have threatened to, within seven days, start killing those in captivity if their demands are not met.
They called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, release their children allegedly kept in a Yola detention facility in Adamawa State.
Malam Tukur Mamu and Dan Iyan Fika, the spokesman of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, were reportedly in communication with the leaders of the terrorists.
The terrorists claimed that the Federal Government suspended the resumption of the train service because of their threats in the audio of the conversations between Malam Tukur Mamu and the leaders of the terrorists that executed the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
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