Kaduna-Abuja Train Attack: Five additional hostages freed

Image: Punch

Terrorist attackers of the ill-fated AK-9 Abuja-Kaduna train on Tuesday released five additional hostages, including Mukhtar Shuaibu, a victim who was reported to be shot while in their custody.

Shuaibu was shot during a “friendly fire” while in the den of the terrorists.

Tukur Mamu, the Publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald and Media Consultant to the controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who withdrew as one of the negotiators, confirmed the release of the five hostages.

The released hostages include Prof. Mustapha Imam, a medical doctor from Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Akibu Lawal, Abubakar Rufai, Mukthar Shuaibu, and Sidi Sharif.

While announcing his withdrawal as a negotiator, Mamu said he did so because of threats to his life, personal integrity, and lack of support from the Federal Government.

On releasing the five hostages, Mamu said the terrorists released them on Tuesday and that the victims were in his office to thank him.

Although there was no mention of whether ransom was paid or not for the released victims, the terrorists had earlier demanded N100 million per victim before they would be released, of which the victims earlier released had paid.

With the release of the fourth batch of the five victims on Tuesday, 35 victims are still in the custody of the terrorists, having set free 26 of them (victims) in total.

Source: punchng.com

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