Terrorists who attacked the Kaduna-Abuja train and kidnapped over 100 Nigerians on March 28 have made demanded for abductees release
Recall that the terrorists had in a viral video last week asked the Nigerian Government to meet their demands or they will kill the abducted victims in their custody.
In the video, the terrorists had threatened to “turn their abode into an abattoir” if the government fails to heed to their demands.
Though they failed to identify the specific thing they want, the terrorists disclosed that they are not after money but the government knows what they want and should be fast in meeting their demands.
On Sunday, the terrorists released another video where some of the captives were seen calling on the government to come to their rescue.
It was gathered that the terrorists have demanded the release of 16 top commanders and sponsors in government detention centres in exchange for the release of the kidnapped victims.
It was learned that a senior security official said the criminals attacked the Kaduna bound train in order to kidnap passengers who could be used to bargain for the release of their commanders and sponsors in detention.
He said the criminals have officially made their demand for prisoners’ exchange known in their ongoing negotiations with the Nigerian Government.
The security official said the terrorists demanded the release of their top commanders and sponsors because their sources of funding had declined.
He said, “The bandits have made contact (with the government) but the issue now involves the Interpol because they have international collaborators. Security operatives are working to identify their connection to Boko Haram.
“The bandits are after their people who are in custody. They are demanding the release of 16 sponsors and commanders in exchange for the abducted train passengers. That’s why they said in a video that the government knows what they want.
“We arrested some of their commanders and those sponsoring them in Dubai and Nigeria. We have about 16 commanders and sponsors in custody, so they are demanding their release because their sources of funding are declining. I hope the authorities would not release the commanders and sponsors to them because we are getting information on the bandits from the suspects.”
The security officer said the terrorists attacked the train in order to get government attention and negotiate the release of their commanders and sponsors.
He, however, said the threats by the criminals to kill the hostages would not give them what they were demanding from the government.
“If they kill their hostages, they would not achieve what they are looking for. The fact is that they are being starved of funds and that is why they are making the threat and it is also the reason for the attack on the train.
“They attacked the train just to get government attention and negotiate the release of their commanders and sponsors,” he said.