Kaduna Train Attack: Victims’ Families Decry Fate Of 2-Year-Old Baby, Pregnant Women, Others In Captivity Commemorate 65 days

Families of the 62 victims of Kaduna train attack which occured on March 28, 2022 on Thursday expressed grave concerns over the fate of the 2-year-old baby, pregnant women, the aged parents as well as others with critical health conditions, who have been held captive by terrorists over the past 65 days.

They expressed their concerns at a meeting held with the member representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo of Osun State in the 9th House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Salam, which marks the 65-day of incarceration of their loved ones.

The aggrieved family members who frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of Federal Government towards ensuring timely release of the 62 people tasked President Muhammadu Buhari and relevant authorities on the need to redouble efforts toward reuniting the abductees to their immediate families.

Speaking through their Chairman, Mr Aliyu Mahmood, they called for the involvement of representatives of the victims’ families in the ongoing negotiation with the bandits.

He said: “We are tired of being in the press and we really are not impressed with how the government has handled the matter. We appreciate their efforts but we need to see things move rapidly.

“These people have been in captivity for 65 days. They are out in the open. This is the rainy season. They don’t have shelter. They don’t have all the necessary things human needs to feel secure and we have a toddler that is two years old. You can only imagine what they are going through. I am sure the environment is really hostile.

He said: “We are tired of being in the press and we really are not impressed with how the government has handled the matter. We appreciate their efforts but we need to see things move rapidly.

“These people have been in captivity for 65 days. They are out in the open. This is the rainy season. They don’t have shelter. They don’t have all the necessary things human needs to feel secure and we have a toddler that is two years old. You can only imagine what they are going through. I am sure the environment is really hostile.

“You have people with guns. You have people that are so sick and don’t have medications. We are talking about 65 days of zero movements as far as we are concerned.

“We are still pleading with the government and if the government feels they can actually open doors of discussion for us to talk to the bandits, we look forward to that. That is, in fact, what we want because, may be, we can convince them and they will do the needful and release all these people that are  in captivity.

 “So please, try and be proactive. Let this thing be finished as soon as possible. I am short of words and I can’t think straight as I am talking to you now. This is the best I can say.

“This issue is not all of about the family members that are here. This issue is all about Nigerians. I have said, too many times, that all of us are victims.”

Credit : Tribune Online