Family members of passengers abducted during the Abuja-Kaduna train attack have disclosed that terrorists are asking for a N100m ransom for each of the 43 passengers still in their custody.
This is coming two days after seven hostages regained their freedom. The terrorists had earlier released 11 captives on the 12th of June after 75 days in captivity.
Initially, the terrorists only demanded the release of 15 of their commanders and some of their children detained by the military.
READ ALSO: Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack: Terrorists release 7 more passengers
The release of the victims was aided with the assistance of the Publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald newspaper, Malam Tukur Mamu, who has been negotiating with the militants.
Giving an update on the situation on Sunday, a family member of the abducted victims, who didn’t want his name in print, told The Punch that the terrorists were asking each family to cough up N100m ransom for the release of their loved ones.
The source said the seven victims that were released on Saturday paid an undisclosed amount.
He said, “It is money that is still delaying the release of the others. The terrorists are demanding ransom now. We heard the last set paid money. So the terrorists also reached out to us as regards the payment of ransom.
“The situation now is that if you have your money, your loved ones would be freed. They have pegged the ransom at N100m. It is just unfortunate.”
Another family member said they were told that the terrorists were no longer interested in negotiating with the federal government, saying that N100m was required to free those in captivity.
He said they were still pleading with the terrorists to reduce the ransom as some of them could not afford the huge amount.
He noted, “My loved one has not been released, those that were released paid N100m. I don’t have that kind of money. The kidnappers got in touch with us. They said they were no longer negotiating with the federal government, getting N100m is the dilemma many of us don’t have.”
Meanwhile, the seven persons released by the terrorists have reunited with their families on Saturday evening.
They include Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule, Sadiq Abdullahi, Muhammad Paki, Aliyu Usman as well as a Pakistani, Dr Muhammad Afzal.
When asked if the terrorists were demanding N100m, the negotiator, Manu, told The PUNCH that the government was in a better position to answer such questions as all the terrorists wanted, their demands had to be forwarded to the government.
Mamu said, “I sent the list to the government but honestly, there was nothing that was done. It was as a result of that that they threatened this attack on Kuje prison and eventually they succeeded in rescuing dozens of their people instead of only 10.
“I think the government should explain that because it has been communicated to the government.”
Mamu commended the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, over what he described as his “behind the scene role” in the release of the seven hostages.
The N100 million demand is coming five days after armed gunmen freed hundreds of terrorists from the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility for the attack in a viral video 24 hours later.
During the attack, over 300 Boko Haram fighters, convicted criminals and other inmates were released by the terrorists who overwhelmed the security operatives guarding the facility.
