Gunmen have released 23 prisoners they kidnapped on a moving train in Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, in March. The passengers are the final group of more than 78 persons kidnapped on their way from Abuja in the infamous event. The Nigerian authorities blamed the kidnapping on Boko Haram.
What you should know
On March 28, 2022, around 78 passengers were kidnapped following an attack on the Abuja-Kaduna bound train, nine of whom were killed. Until the release of the last 23 victims, around 55 of the kidnapped passengers were released in groups, some after paying a ransom in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Abdulfatai Jimoh, the leader of the kidnapped victims’ family, and another family member, Sani Lawal, acknowledged knowledge of the remaining passengers’ release but said that they were yet to contact them.
What’s next
Following the rescue of the remaining 23 passengers held hostage on the Abuja-Kaduna train, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) stated yesterday that service on the Abuja-Kaduna line would be restored soon.
Muazu Jaji Sambo, the minister of transportation, stated initially that train services would not restart until everyone kidnapped on March 28, 2022, was released.