…as military says it rescued 848 kidnap victims in 3 weeks
A month after bandits attacked a train in Nigeria and kidnapped scores of passengers, they released the picture of a baby girl delivered in their den by one of the female victims.
The woman is said to be eight-month pregnant when the kidnappers attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train on the night of March 28, killing about eight and wounding about 26 of the passengers.
They took away an unknown number of passengers currently put at about 63, and have so far released only one person, the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, who allegedly paid N100m ransom to be free.
This report comes as the Nigerian Defecnce headquarters said on Thursday its troops rescued a total of 848 kidnap victims from various parts of the country in the three weeks to April 28, 2022.
The terrorists that kidnapped passengers of the AK9 Abuja-Kaduna bound train have released the picture of the newly born girl delivered by one of the pregnant women taken hostage.
Reports the group, said to be a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, known as Ansaru, released the picture of the baby girl on Wednesday night. The bandits are said to have brought in a medical doctor who delivered the woman of the baby.
The release of the baby’s picture followed that of the group photos of the captives that the bandits have been releasing on social media since the beginning of this week.
The government has refused to negotiate with the bandits, who have demanded a swap of the victims with their commanders and sponsors currently held by the government.
The Defence Headquarters on Thursday announced that no fewer than 848 kidnapped Nigerians were rescued by troops during various operations across the country in the last three weeks.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, General Benard Onyeuko, told journalists in Abuja o Thursday that they rescued a total of 848 kidnap victims during various operation across Nigeria in the three weeks. The troops also killed the Islamic State of West Africa Province Commander, Abubakar Dan-Buduma.
“Troops neutralised 23 terrorists, rescued 619 civilians, and arrested 19 terrorists. Troops responded to a distress call of terrorists’ attack at Wanzamai in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
“Troops mobilised to the village and engaged the terrorist where scores of the terrorists were killed. In the cause of the operation troops rescued 32 women and 18 children.
“Also, within the period under review, troops recovered 592 rustled cattle. Troops also rescued 179 civilians, neutralized 62 terrorists, and apprehended 100 terrorists.
“The land component of Operation Hadin Kai with support of the air components conducted an offensive operation in Arina Woje in Marte Local Government Area of Borno state and neutralized a prominent Islamic State of West Africa Province Commander Abubakar Dan-Buduma and scores of the terrorists.
“Also, a notorious informant and logistic supplier to the Islamic State of West Africa Mallam Abba Sidi Lawan was arrested at Auno town in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno state.
“Similarly, troops arrested Abdurrazaq Hudu a logistics supplier of Islamic State of West Africa Province at Mutum Biyu village in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba state,” he added.
