August 19, (THEWILL) – The negotiator of the abducted train passengers, Tukur Mamu, has raised the alarm that the abductors want to marry one of the hostages, a 21-year-old Christian lady, Azurfa Lois John.
Suspected terrorists, had on March 28, 2022, attacked the ill fated Abuja-Kaduna bound Train, killing 8 passengers, while abducting scores.
In a statement on Friday, Mamu said the leader of the terrorists has fallen in love with one Azurfa Lois John, and called on the federal government and the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to intensify every effort to rescue the embattled lady as quickly as possible.
He said as they have done in the case of Leah Sharibu, “they are planning to marry her any moment from now.
Mamu said, “This is to alert the federal government and especially the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that I can confirm through credible information at my disposal that if urgent action is not taken to immediately secure the release of the youngest victim of the train attack, 21-year-old Azurfa Lois John, the abductors as they have done in the case of Leah Sharibu, are planning to marry her any moment from now.
“One of the top commanders is said to be in love with her. This important information should be treated with the urgency it deserves.
“Even though I know that releasing this information will not only unsettle her immediate family and loved ones, but Nigerians as a whole, it is necessary to do so to avoid the repeat of Leah Sharibu’s case.
“I advise CAN in particular not to politicise this issue or reduce it to mere press releases, as I have seen in the past but to work closely with relevant authorities to engage the abductors on her case as soon as possible before it is late.
“I pray that in view of the uncertainties which are becoming alarming, the federal government will also act very fast to ensure the release of all the remaining victims.
Meanwhile, the terrorists in the early hours of Friday, released the oldest victim in captivity alongside three others.
The 90-year-old grandmother, Halimatu Atta, her daughter, 53, Adama Aliyu, Mohammed Sani Abdulmaji and Modin Bodinga, have reunited with their families in Kaduna State.
The development came nine days after the terrorists released a family of six, and according to Mamu, 23 victims were still left in the forest.
“I can confirm that earlier on Friday, four additional victims of the train attack were released by their abductors. The four released victims just left my office.
“They said they came collectively to thank me for the past efforts I made to mediate on their behalf and for convincing their abductors to drop the threats of executing them and to plead for all stakeholders especially the federal government to intensify efforts as the condition of the remaining 23 victims they left at the forest is pathetic.
“Amongst those that were released on Friday, include the oldest victim, a grandmother, Mama Halimatu Atta. She is 90 years old. Also released is her daughter, 53 year old married woman, Adama Atta Aliyu, (the woman that was bravely shown in the last video protesting and challenging her captors and lamenting failure to secure their release).
“The victim that first suggested my name to the abductors, as one of those to be contacted to mediate between them and the federal government, Mohammed Sani Abdulmaji (M.S Ustaz) and a Sokoto indigene, Alhaji Modin Modi Bodinga, were also released on Friday”, the statement added.
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