The Federal Government of Nigeria has disclosed that contrary to wide speculations, no kobo was actually paid for the release of the 23 kidnapped passengers earlier abducted on the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train attack of March 28, 2022.
This was confirmed by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Muazu Sambo, while addressing a news conference in Abuja on Saturday, he asserted that the released passengers have already been reunited with their families after proper medical check-ups and examinations.
The Minister, who expressed happiness with the release of the victims, explained that the target of the government was to get the victims out safely without the payment of ransom.
He added that there are plans for the resumption of train services on the Abuja-Kaduna line.
President Muhammadu Buhari had last week expressed his joy and satisfaction, and that of the entire country with the military as well as other security agencies on the safe release of the remaining 23 kidnapped train passengers held in captivity by terrorists for 6 months.
While reacting to the news of the safe release of the hostages in line with his earlier directives, President Buhari pointed out that the nation owed the military and all other security and intelligence agencies a debt of gratitude for the successful conduct of the operation leading to the release of the hostages, saying that these agencies had shown outstanding capabilities over this period that the whole world will not fail to take note of.
The President in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu was quoted as saying, ‘This country’s Armed Forces are as good as any. Given needed support and encouragement as we have been doing, there is no task that they cannot accomplish. I commend them for this remarkable outcome.’
In expressing satisfaction with the successful deployment of both kinetic and non-kinetic processes leading to the eventual safe release of the remaining hostages, President Buhari also congratulated the families of the victims for having them back alive.