One of the freed passengers in the Kaduna-bound train has enjoined the Federal Government to take the terrorists seriously to avert causing more mayhem in the country.
In an interview with Arise News monitored in Uyo on Tuesday, August 2, Prof. Mustapha Umar Imam, a medical doctor at the Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUS), Sokoto released by the terrorists, said they are more organized and are spread all over the country.
Imam who reportedly was shot in the kidnappers’ camp, is one of the five freed passengers who were abducted on March 28, 2022.
Read also
- Terrorists use ransoms to build houses in Niger Republic- Otitoju
- Bandits in trouble as Nigerian government declares them terrorists
- Nigerian Army Under Fire For Embracing Repentant Boko Haram Terrorists
He said the terrorists used to announce plans to strike or bomb some strategic places in the country.
‘‘In the camp, they told us that they have intelligence of all places in the country and could strike at any time. When I came out from the captivity, I asked and some people would confirm that they struck those places,’’ the medical doctor recounted.
Asked on how he fared while in the camp. Imam lamented that ‘‘I used to be hungry because I ate once some days or twice some days. For the past two weeks, the terrorists were generous to us in that they gave us money to feed ourselves. I used to send for soft drink in the nearby kiosk.’’
He attributed his freedom to his family, noting that ‘‘The government did not play any role in my release. I thank my family for doing everything possible to secure my release after being caged in the terrorists’ camp for 100 days.’’
While in the camp, I was their medical doctor. Terrorists of different ranks used to come to mw for treatment. At a stage, I was scared in that I thought that they might not release to go,’’ Imam said.
Other passengers who were released are Akibu Lawal, Abubakar Ahmed Rufai, Muktar Shuaibu and Sidi Aminu Sharif.
Kaduna-based Publisher, Tukur Mamu, who voluntary engaged in negotiating the release of the victims but backed out due to threats to his life, confirmed their release to Daily Trust on Tuesday.
It is unclear if any ransom was paid for the victims, whose release occurred three weeks after seven train passengers were set free after an N800 million ransom.
It was reliably gathered that families of each of the six Nigerian victims paid N100 million while the captors pegged the ransom for the Pakistani at N200 million which was also paid.
