Terrorists collected N6bn ransom from Abuja-Kaduna train attack victims’ families
At least N6 billion ransom was paid to terrorists by families of victims who were attacked and abducted an an Abuja-Kaduna passenger train on March 28, 2022.
No fewer than 14 persons were killed, 63 others were officially declared abducted, while 23 remaining captives were, recently released almost seven months after.
Family sources disclosed that each victim outside of the last 23 paid N100m to regain their freedom, and the criminals received over N6 billion in ransom payments.
Sources said that before the release of the remaining 23 hostages, some 40 abductees were released in groups after alleged payment of N100m ransom each.
Though the government and its agents have denied paying any ransom to the terrorists, it was gathered that victims’ families were made to cough out N100 million each to secure the release of their loved ones.
“The terrorists collected the ransom in naira and US dollars. Only N200 million was collected in naira, the remaining N600 million was paid in the equivalent of US dollars,” one of the victims’ relations confirmed.
The attack had forced the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, to temporarily suspend activities on the Abuja-Kaduna route while President Muhammadu Buhari directed security agencies to rescue the victims.
A Presidential Committee, was therefore, set up by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, to look into the incident, secure the release of the remaining victims in captivity.
Usman Yusuf, Secretary, of the Chief of Defence Staff Action Committee, CDSAC. in a statement announced the release of the remaining hostages last week.
He said: “I am pleased to announce to the nation and the world that at 1600Hrs (4:00 pm) today, Wednesday, 5-10-2022, the seven-man Presidential Committee assembled by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General L.E.O. Irabor, secured the release and took custody of all the 23 remaining passengers held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists following the attack on the Abuja to Kaduna train on 28-3-2022”.
