On Tuesday, the gunmen who attacked a train headed for Kaduna in March and kidnapped a number of passengers released five more hostages on tuesday.
The hostages were freed after the terrorists freed four of the victims on Monday last week.
The release of the five hostages was confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES by newspaper publisher Tukur Mamu, who had earlier secured the release of some of the hostages.
Mustapha Imam, a lecturer at Usman Danfodio University in Sokoto, Akibu Lawal, Abubakar Rufai, Mukthar Shu’aibu, and Sidi Sharif were among the hostages who were freed, according to Mr. Mamu.
The freed hostages, according to Mr. Mamu, paid a visit to his office on Tuesday afternoon to express their gratitude for his efforts in achieving their release.
Due to threats to his life, concerns for his personal integrity, and an alleged lack of support from the Federal Government, Mr. Mamu claimed he had withdrawn as the chief negotiator for the release of the prisoners.
He added that he is unsure if the detainees’ families paid a ransom before their release.
34 of the victims are still being held captive in the forest, he claimed, despite the release of the five.
Idris Garba, the son of a former military governor of Kano State, together with his wife and kids and numerous others are supposedly still detained.
