EXCLUSIVE: We were Warned not to Speak to Media – Kaduna Train Attack Victims
By Kabir Akintayo
As Nigerians continue to agonise over the fate of travellers who were kidnapped on board the ill-fated Kaduna bound train in March, there are strong indications that the few lucky ones who have been released will avoid any media interviews for the sake of their safety.
Out of 61 persons that were kidnapped by the terrorists, only 19 have regained freedom so far after paying ransom in excess of millions of naira.
POLITICS DIGEST crew that visited Kaduna to get fresh and exclusive information about the experience of some of the released victims were however greeted with a lot of reluctance from the victims and their respective families.
A family member of two of the victims who were siblings told our crew on the condition of anonymity that as they were releasing them, they were severely warned not to speak to journalists about their experience.
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The kidnappers added that their safety would not be guaranteed if they expose their secrets and modus operandi to members of the public through the media.
The relatives added that they had to part with huge millions of naira to get their family members released from the kidnappers’ den.
He however allowed POLITICS DIGEST team to see the victims who could not say much because they were yet to recover from the trauma of their experience.
While one was among the first 11 victims that were released, the relative said it took the intervention of famous Kaduna cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, to facilitate the release of the second sibling after which they were warned not to speak to press about the incident.
Bandits had on March 28, 2022, held the Abuja-Kaduna train hostage killing eight, and wounding 26 others.
President Muhammadu Buhari had recently given a marching order to security agents to facilitate the release of the remaining victims.
However, 114 days after the attack, families of the victims have vowed to resist the resumption of train services until their loved ones are released.
