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Train attack victims: FG reveals details on alleged ransome paid
Muhammadu Buhari
The Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Mua’zu Sambo, has said no ransome was paid for the release of the remaining 23 kidnapped victims of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack of in March 28.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on the release of the remaining 23 of the 62 passengers who were kidnapped on board the train on Friday in Abuja, adding that the release took place after
several appropriate measures were taken to secure the hostages as the Buhari led administration does not support or approve of ransome payment.
“It is not appropriate to reveal exactly what measures have been taken in order to secure the release of hostages of this nature. Now, there are two things I want you to bear in mind. All through these incidents it is the position of this government that under no circumstances should there be collateral damage.
“In other words, the military and security agencies that have been charged with the responsibility of securing the release of these hostages should not act in a way that will endanger the lives of the same hostages is lost in the process of securing them.”
“Secondly, there is a committee made up of some retired generals and some retired public officers of high ranking and status who assisted the military and security agencies throughout the process of securing the release of this hostages.
” I want to state categorically, that because this government does not support and approve of ransom payment, no kobo was paid in exchange for the release of this 23 hostages, indeed for the other ones as well.
Speaking on rehabilitation of the released victims, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, disclosed rehabilitation is part of the process of securing the release of the patients.
According to her, doctors have reviewed the them and they are already being attended to medically.
Speaking on resumption of train services on the Abuja-Kaduna rou Sambo said that following the release of the victims, plans were underway to resume the train services in earnest.
” In order to resume train services , we have to put I place measures that will ensure that going forward such an incident will never happen again in this country.
“We have a short term and long term plan. The short term measures will be put in place very quickly to enable rail services commence.
“And beyond a period of three months we would have put in place a sustainable plan that would ensure that our rail lines are safe and secure and people can travel on them with their mind and hearts assured of safety.
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