I am pleased to announce to the nation and the world that at 1600Hrs. (4:00pm) today, Wednesday 5-10-2022, the seven-man Presidential Committee assembled by the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General L E O Irabor, secured the release and took custody of all the 23 remaining passengers
By Saidu Idris
365Daily – The remaining on 23 remaining captives of the Kaduna train attack of March 28 have regained their freedom.
This was disclosed by the Secretary of the Chief of Defence Staff Action Committee, Usman Yusuf, in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
He said the hostages were released at about 4 pm.
Boko Haram insurgents had blown up the Abuja-Kaduna rail track and bombed the moving train, killing some and abducting more than 60 passengers. The train services were shut down in the aftermath of the incident.
Yusuf said: “I am pleased to announce to the nation and the world that at 1600Hrs. (4:00pm) today, Wednesday 5-10-2022, the seven-man Presidential Committee assembled by the Chief of Defense 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.”
He continued: “The nation owes a debt of gratitude to the Nigerian Military under the leadership of the CDS who conceived and guided the operation from start to finish. All sister Security Agencies and the Federal Ministry of Transportation contributed immensely to this Operation.
“The unwavering support of the President and Commander in Chief GCFR is what made it all possible. Members of this Committee are grateful for the rare honour and privilege to be part of this humanitarian operation.
365Daily recalls that Tukur Mamu, the terrorist negotiator for the victims and their abductors, was on September 6, 2022, arrested in Cairo, Egypt while on his way to Saudi Arabia.
According to the Department of State Services Mamu, posing as a journalist, was part of an international terrorist network.
Below is the statement announcing the release of the remaining victims:
BREAKING NEWS
5th October 2022
I am pleased to announce to the nation and the world that at 1600Hrs. (4:00pm) today, Wednesday 5-10-2022, the seven-man Presidential Committee assembled by the Chief of Defense 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. The nation owes a debt of gratitude to the Nigerian Military under the leadership of the CDS who conceived and guided the operation from start to finish. All sister Security Agencies and the Federal Ministry of Transportation contributed immensely to this Operation. The unwavering support of the President and Commander in Chief GCFR is what made it all possible. Members of this Committee are grateful for the rare honour and privilege to be part of this Humanitarian Operation. May God Almighty Heal Our Wounds and Bring Peace to Our Land.
SIGNED: Prof. Usman Yusuf Secretary, Chief of Defense Staff Action Committee (CDSAC).