Relatives of passengers abducted from a Kaduna-Abuja-bound train have given the federal government 72 hours ultimatum to ensure all those in the hands of their abductors regain their freedom.
Briefing newsmen in Kaduna, the spokesman of the families, Dr Abdufatai Jimoh, said failure to ensure the release of the abducted passengers, they would do whatever is necessary to secure the release of their loved ones, insisting that the government has what it takes to ensure the release of their relatives.
He explained, “We are appealing to the government to do all that is necessary to get our loved ones out of captivity. We have decided as a collective, that we are giving the government 72 hours to do all that is necessary to bring out our loved ones back.
“In the event that the government fails to do so, we are ready to do what is necessary to secure the release of our loved ones but we know government is in a better position to do it.”
The spokesman said the abductors have refused to speak with relatives, stressing that they do not have the contacts to reach the outlaws.
He explained that a day after passengers were abducted from the Kaduna-Abuja train, they were contacted by their relatives but that the line of communication has gone cold since then.
”Many of us had communication with our affected relatives and the promise from the bandits was that we should get ready that they were going to contact us. Today is the fifteenth day, and we have not heard any communication from them.
“Unfortunately, since this incident happened, we expected that by now the government, Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Ministry of transportation, they are supposed to have identified relatives of the victims to tell us what efforts they are making to rescue our loved e unhurt because we believed it is the responsibility of government to protect the lives and property of their citizens.”
He added, “We believe our government is capable of doing it and we are trusting that the government can do it. Until a few days ago, we have been expecting to receive phone calls from the abductors because that was what they promised but when we saw the video, they made it clear that what they want is to discuss with the government that they have something between them and government.”