Presidency: We released terrorists’ leader’s families for train passengers’ freedom

The Presidency has disclosed that the Federal Government released a terrorists’ leader’s wife, newly born twins and seven other children to secure the release of the abducted Abuja-Kaduna train passengers.

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.

The presidential spokesman stated that the Federal Government was doing everything possible to ensure the release of the train passengers who are still in captivity.

Shehu 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 government 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.

READ ALSO: Buhari: Why I rejected use of military force to rescue train passengers

“Again, they refused to release the victims. Instead, they asked for money, so you can not say government is doing nothing,” he stated.

The train passengers were abducted by terrorists on March 28, 2022.

Since the abduction, the abductors have released some victims while millions of naira were reportedly paid to ensure the abductees regain freedom.

Speaking during a meeting with the representatives of the abducted train passengers’ families at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on

Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari said he discarded the use of lethal military force to rescue the victims to ensure they regain freedom unhurt.

Buhari, however, assured that the Federal Government was doing everything within its powers to ensure the safe return of the remaining abductees.

The Star