By Bolaji Ogundele, Okodili Ndidi, Gbenga Omokhunu, Tony Akowe, Abuja and AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna
In a rare show of empathy, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday paid a surprise visit to the 23 freed passengers of the Kaduna-bound train attacked by terrorists at the Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Kaduna.
The passengers, who form the last batch of 62 passengers kidnapped six months ago by the terrorists, were freed yesterday through the combined efforts of a seven-man presidential committee set up by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, security agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
Buhari, according to a statement, by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, paid the impromptu visit to the victims after inaugurating Cadets of 69 Regular Course (Army, Navy, and Air Force) of the NDA, in Afaka.
Shehu said that the President once again thanked the military and other security agencies for their bravery in securing the safe release of the hostages.
”This feat was not achieved without our military, as the interventionist Chief of Defence Staff Action Committee set up by General Leo Irabor was at the centre of the development, along with sister security agencies. I say bravo to our soldiers, officers, and gentlemen,.” The presidential spokesman quoted Buhari as saying.
He added that members of the presidential committee, led by Maj.-Gen. Usman Abdulkadir, were present at the hospital.
*How hostages were released, by DHQ, presidential panel member
In Abuja and Kaduna, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and a member of the presidential committee, Abdulmalik Atta, gave details of how the hostages regained their freedom.
Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, told reporters in Abuja that “elements of national power” were deployed by the security agencies and the presidential committee.
Akpor, who was not clear on whether or not the terrorists were arrested during the rescue process, however, said they would not escape justice.
He said: “We have what we call elements of national power, and talking about elements of national power you have natural and social elements. These elements can be deployed separately or combined to achieve national objectives.
“You know that there was a very high-powered committee and there was a lot of secrecy about how they went about deploying those elements of national power to ensure that the last batch (of passengers) was released,
“In talking about what happened to the terrorists is part of that details you won’t get now but surely anybody who commits any offence against the nation will definitely be fished out and be brought to book”.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Musa Danmadami, explained that the operation was non-kinetic.
He said: “I don’t think the details of the operation should be an issue for now. The most important thing is that these people have been released.
“In the course of operations, there are what we call kinetic and non-kinetic operations and this one was that of non-kinetic operations. At the appropriate time, the details will be given.”
A member of the Presidential Committee, Dr. Atta, revealed that the rescue efforts were made difficult by detained terrorists’ negotiators, Tukur Mamu.
Atta, who is also the son of the rescued passengers, added that some of the hostages reunited with their families in the military hospital.
He explained that during the rescue process, Mamu introduced the issue of money, which the abductors hitherto, did not demand.
The committee member added that because of Mamu’s action, some families parted with over $200,000.
Atta, in an interview with Channels Television, revealed that the committee members made life-threatening sacrifices. He said they had to go into the forest to meet with the terrorists and even slept in the bush.
He said: “It has been six months and one week, but we thank God, everything has come to an end now, thanks to the support from the Federal Government through the office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). We were able to go into the bush and bring back the remaining of our family members.
“We achieved this not through somebody who betrayed the committee and the government, who did everything within his reach to thwart the efforts of the government for his own interest. As we all know, he is in the hands of the government now. But we thank God, all our family members are back now.
“The bandits never asked for money ab-initio. A negotiator allegedly introduced money into the whole thing and derailed the process and kept everybody for the past six months. We parted away with about $200,000. Thank God the CDS took it upon himself and put in place a committee that never asked a kobo. Every sacrifice being done so far has been personal towards ensuring the release of the victims.
“We risked our lives, went to the bush, we slept there in the bush. We heard the complaints of those people (the terrorists), even though we knew what they have done is wrong, but we had to engage them.”
Atta advised security agencies to “synergise their operations’’ and the Federal Government to be open to “engagements.”
A family member of one of the victims told The Nation that, some of the freed passengers may not be discharged any time soon.
He said: “I speak with you, the family members have been granted access to the rescued hostages at the Air Force Hospital. But, what I can say right now is that some of them are in critical condition, so they cannot be discharged immediately.
“For now, it is a mixed feeling for us. We are happy to see our loved ones out of captivity, out of uncertainty, and out of danger, but they are very sick presently. We only hope and pray that they get better very quickly.”
Another said some of the rescued hostages needed to go through blood transfusions.
*Reps Speaker promises support for victims
Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila has assured the released victims of support during their healing and recovery processes.
“These victims and their families deserve and will receive the support of the House of Representatives and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as they work to rebuild their bodies and spirits and restore normalcy to their lives,’’ he said in a statement by Special Adviser, Media, and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi.
*CAN lauds Buhari, tasks security agencies
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has lauded Buhari for the release of the hostages.
It said the development signposts Federal Government’s efforts at combating insecurity which is “our common enemy as a nation.
The association urged the President and security agencies to prevent terrorists from always attacking unsuspecting travelers.
“We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for this development which signposts the efforts of the Federal Government at combating our common enemy as a nation – insecurity,” CAN said in a statement by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh.
“CAN also lauded the military and all other security and intelligence agencies for the successful conduct of the operation which led to the release of the hostages. They have shown outstanding capabilities in recent times and the whole world will not fail to take note of their good efforts,” it added.