Lead negotiator between the government and terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March and media consultant to Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, Malam Tukur Mamu, has said the seven abductees who were freed on Saturday have reunited with their families.

Mamu said the abductees declined the help the military offered them after their release.

The negotiator said the military authorities wanted to keep the freed abductees in their care, but they chose to follow him (Mamu) to his Kaduna office where they were reunited with their family members.

He hailed Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni for the crucial role he played that led to the freedom of the captives.

Mamu said: “It was tears of joy for those who sighted their loved ones after over 100 days of harrowing experience in the terrorists’ enclave, while those whose relations were still held captive cried of disappointment and deep sorrow.

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“They accused government of putting their lives in danger and unnecessarily delaying their release. They insisted that government must get their families out immediately to enable them have urgent medical attention in view of their bad health condition.”

The negotiator said the distance between the military checkpoint and the remote location where the captives were secured was more than 50 kilometres without an access road.    He said after securing the victims, the soldiers provided security cover that brought them back to Kaduna.

Mamu added: “Behind the scene, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has done so much to ensure the success of the mission.

“Sincerely, I have so much respect for Governor Buni. From the information I have, there is no single Yobe citizen left in that forest. But that governor demonstrated uncommon concern on this issue. He has been in touch with me throughout, monitoring developments and even reaching out to those concerned whenever there was the need to do so.

“Governor Buni gave lots of support. This is a governor from the Northeast, far from the Northwest where we have this crisis. He told me not to publicise his efforts, but I have to.”

The negotiator said he only used dialogue and persuasion during the negotiation, adding that no money exchanged hands.

He said this showed that engaging the terrorists through non-kinetic approach, as Sheikh Gumi suggested, could be the solution to the saga.

Also, a son of the Chairman of Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, who was among the freed abductees, said: “The soldiers were considerate enough to hand us over to Tukur Mamu after we insisted that we would not go with them. The most difficult job has been done by him, Alhamdulillah (thanks to Allah). We were all taken to his office; even before then, he had contacted all our family members to come and pick us.

“I can confirm to you that this man did this thing alone because even our family members were taken by surprise. They least expected the rescue soon; more so that today, a Saturday, is Sallah Day.”

Sadiq, who could not hold back his tears, thanked Allah and Mamu for the sacrifice and the freedom.

According to him, the Federal Government needs to intensify efforts to ensure that the remaining passengers are rescued as soon as possible because of their deteriorating health condition.