Nation
11 Kaduna Train Attack Victims Regain Freedom After 75 Days In Captivity
Terrorists have released 11 out of the remaining 61 abducted passengers of the Abuja–Kaduna AK9 train after 75 days in captivity.
Alhaji Tukur Mamu, the negotiator and media consultant to the Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, disclosed that the 11 victims were released last Saturday.
Mamu, who is the publisher of a Kaduna-based newspaper, Desert Herald, stated that the release was achieved following a series of robust engagement with the terrorists and with him as the middleman and lead negotiator with the approval of the Federal Government.
The train was attacked on March 28, 2022, in Kaduna State where nine passengers were killed and many others whisked away by terrorists.
The terrorists had threatened to commence the killing of the passengers if the government failed to meet their demands.
The demands included the unconditional release of their children being held in an orphanage in Adamawa State under the strict supervision of the Nigerian Army as well as their detained comrade at arms.
Mamu said contrary to “earlier commitment to release all the women in their custody, a total number of 11 victims were released on Saturday, June 11, 2022. They are six females and five males”.
The negotiator identified the released victims to include Jessy John, Amina Ba’aba Mohammed (Gamba), Rashida Yusuf Busari, Hannah Ajewole and Amina Jibril.
Others are Najib Mohammed Daiharu, Gaius Gambo, Hassan Aliyu, Peace A. Boy and Danjuma Sa’idu. However, the name of the 11th victim was not disclosed.
According to him, those released have been flown to Abuja on the order of President Muhammadu Buhari for medical evaluation and treatment before they will be reunited with their families.
He quoted an insider to have confided in him that the male victims were released on health grounds as part of the request made by the negotiating team, while “the women, who are among the vulnerable, are part of the agreement reached with the abductors”.
Mamu said, “We have succeeded in building confidence now; we will do everything to sustain it in the interest of the innocent victims that are still in captivity. It’s a painful and frustrating process, but it must be done if we are to secure the precious lives of the remaining victims.
“The good news is that our collective efforts have succeeded in securing the release of 11 of the victims so far. With the continued support of the Federal Government, all the remaining victims will be released soon Insha Allah.
“President Buhari must be commended for understanding the gravity of the crisis and for giving directives to the security agencies. The CDS (Chief of Defence Staff), Gen Lucky Irabor, has done excellently well under the circumstance. The Army and the DSS have played crucial roles. There is no military solution to this predicament.”
Nation
Rumuaholu Community Denies Land Grabbing Allegations, Accuses Obio/Akpor Chairman of Interference in Land Dispute
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.
Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.
“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.
Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state
He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.
“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.
While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.
He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.
Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.