The presidency has disclosed that terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train reneged on the promises they made to the federal government despite the fact that all their demands have been met.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, made the disclosure in an interview with BBC Hausa service on Friday.
According to Shehu, the government has done all it can to meet the demands of terrorists to ensure the release of all the victims.
He said the terrorists’ leader demanded the release of his wife, newly born twins and seven other children who were in prison custody, noting that the government complied with the demand so the abducted victims could be released.
He said, “Anyone who says government is not doing anything about their release might be unaware of efforts government is making.
“Let me tell you, initially the gang leader demanded the release of his pregnant wife who was in jail. The govt took her to a hospital where she gave birth to twins and informed him that his wife and the twins are in good health and later all three were freed.
“He refused to free the victims, but he gave a fresh demand of releasing 6 or 7 of his children from prison. Not only did the government release them from jail, it sent a plane to fly them from Adamawa, where they were detained, and delivered them to the terrorists.
“Again, they refused to release the victims. Instead, they asked for money, so you can not say government is doing nothing.”