Story from Ademola ADEBAYO
Lead negotiator and media consultant to Sheikh Gumi, Malam Tukur Mamu, has reunited seven victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack on Saturday night with their respective families, calling on Nigerians to thank Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State for the crucial role he played that led to the freedom of the captives.
Malam Tukur Mamu, the Dan-Iyan Fika and publisher of the Kaduna based DESERT HERALD Newspaper, said efforts by the Yobe state governor, was one that shouldn’t go unnoticed while commending the governor for the role he played to ensure the release and safe handover of the captives to their families.
According to Tukur Mamu, “Behind the scene was the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni who has done so much to ensure the success of the mission.”
“Sincerely, I have so much respect for Gov Buni. From the information I have there is no single Yobe citizen left in that forest but that Governor demonstrated uncommon concern on this issue. He has been in touch with me throughout, monitoring development and even reaching out to those concerned whenever there is the need to do so.”
“Governor Buni gave lots of support. This is a Governor from the North East, far from the North West where we have this crisis. He told me not to publicize his efforts but I have to,” said Mamu.
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Mamu disclosed that efforts by the military to take over the rescued victims after they were released was resisted by them. They accused government of putting their lives in danger and unnecessarily delaying their release and insisted on getting to their families immediately to be able to have urgent medical attention in view of their health condition.
The Publisher also confirmed that from the military checkpoint that led to the remote location where the captives were successfully secured is more than 50 kilometers without assess road. He also said after retrieving the victims, the soldiers had provided security cover that brought them back to Kaduna.
“The soldiers were considerable enough to hand us over to Tukur Mamu after we insisted that we will not go with them. The most difficult job has been done by him alhamdulillah.
“We were all taken to his office and even before then he has contacted all our family members to come and pick us. I can confirm to you that this man did this thing alone because even our family members were taken by surprise, they least expected the rescue soon more so that today (Saturday) is Sallah day”, Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, son of the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University said in tears while thanking Allah and Mamu for the sacrifice and efforts.
He also urged the federal government to intensify efforts to ensure that the remaining passengers are rescued as soon as possible because of their deteriorating medical condition.
