#AK9Train: Foreign National Speaks In New Proof Of Life Video
A Pakistani among the passengers kidnapped aboard the Abuja-Kaduna train has appealed to the governments of Nigeria and Pakistan to secure his release.
A foreign national kidnapped along with other passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna train has spoken in a new proof of life video released by their kidnappers and seen by HumAngle on Wednesday, May 25.
The foreign national, who identified himself as a Pakistani working in Nigeria under the name Abuzarr Muhammad Tafsir, pleaded with the governments of Pakistan and Nigeria to assist in their release.
“The conditions are not good,” he admitted. “We are appealing to the government of Pakistan and the government of Nigeria, as well as the international community, to help us,” he added.
Five other people spoke in the video, including three women who pleaded with the government to adhere to their abductors’ demands.
On March 28, 2022, terrorists kidnapped over 60 train passengers. Later, two of them, including a pregnant woman, were released.
The video was released just one day after the abductors threatened to kill the victims if the Nigerian government did not meet their demands.
“We don’t need money. We have a good reason for doing what we did, until our demands are met none of the victims will come out alive even if it means we all die with them. They are well taken care of as you can see from the pictures we sent to you via WhatsApp but we assure you that this will not continue,” the abductors told Tukur Mamu, the spokesperson of Sheikh Mahmud Gumi, an Islamic cleric.
The leader of the terrorists, Abu Barra, stated that it has been two months since the abduction and that anything could happen to the abducted passengers in the future.
He explained that the abduction was in retaliation for the security agencies’ arrest and detention of their children.
“Our children numbering about eight, between the ages of one to seven years, are currently being held at an orphanage in Jimeta, Adamawa State under the supervision of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
“The names of our children are; Abdulrahman, Bilkisu, Usman, Ibrahim and Juwairiyyah. They were forcefully taken from our wives in Nasarawa and taken to the orphanage in Yola.
“For any continued discussion on the release of these passengers and a safe resumption of the train service, our children must be released unconditionally. Only then will we release some of the abducted victims, especially the women while other passengers will be released on a prisoner exchange with some of our arrested comrades by the government,” he continued.
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