Train attack: Another batch of kidnapped passengers, family of six, 60 yr old woman released

A family of six — a couple and four children as well as a 60-year-old woman, who were among the kidnapped Kaduna-bound train passengers, have been released after 135 days in captivity.

Persecondnews gathered that the father of the four kids, Abubakar Idris Garba, who is the son of former Military Administrator of Kano and Benue States, retired Maj.-Gen. Chris Garba, along with wife and children, were released after the renowned Islamic scholar; Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, intervened.

His children include Ibrahim Abubakar Garba (10), Fatima Abubakar Garba (7), Imran Abubakar Garba (5), and youngest Zainab Abubakar Garba, who is only one and half years old.

The 60-year-old woman, Hajia Aisha Hassan, was reported to have been released due to life-threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.

Persecondnews recalls that on August 2, 2022,  five other victims of the abducted Kaduna-bound train were also freed by the terrorists.

The freed victims are Prof. Mustapha Umar Imam, a medical doctor at Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Akibu Lawal, Abubakar Ahmed Rufai, Mukthar Shu’aibu and Sidi Aminu Sharif.

With this release, 42 victims have so far regained their freedom with 35 still in captivity.

On March 28, 2022, armed terrorists launched a bloody offensive on the Abuja-Kaduna train with about 970 passengers onboard, shooting at the passengers and kidnapping some of them.

The attack which occurred a few kilometres to Kaduna metropolis left about eight people killed, dozens injured and about 168 kidnapped by the bandits.

The terrorists were reported to have detonated bombs on the track and immobilized the train between Katari and Rijana en route to Kaduna.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had since the tragic incident, the first in the country, stopped shuttle service between Abuja and Kaduna.

Families of the abductees had demonstrated both in Abuja and Kaduna, appealing to the federal authorities to rescue their loved ones.

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