Nigeria: Release of remaining Abuja-train abductees – but at what cost?

Islamic oppression Nigeria | 13 October 2022

Ex-Brigadier General Aliyu Nuhu has clearly hit the nail on the head by calling to attention that the abductors have not only got off scot-free, they also collected ransom money and foreign currency to the tune of billions of Naira and secured the release of over 100 Boko Haram fighters.

As reported by Everyday NG on 6 October 2022: A “seven-man Presidential Committee assembled by the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General LEO Irabor, secured the release [on 5^th October] and took custody of all the 23 remaining passengers held hostage by Boko Haram Terrorists following the attack on the Abuja to Kaduna train on 28-3-2022”. A statement written by the Committee reminds the nation that it “owes a debt of gratitude” to the Nigerian Army and its Commander in Chief, President Muhammad Buhari. According to Leadership NG reporting on 9 October 2022, an unverified Twitter message claims that 101 Boko Haram inmates held in Kirikiri Prison since 2009 were released on 8 October to secure the freedom of the abducted train passengers.

Frans Veerman, Managing Director of World Watch Research, comments: “Of course, it is good for the families of the abducted train passengers that they have been freed. But who are the actual winners and losers in this event? Ex-Brigadier General Aliyu Nuhu has clearly hit the nail on the head by calling to attention that the abductors have not only got off scot-free, they also collected ransom money and foreign currency to the tune of billions of Naira and secured the release of over 100 Boko Haram fighters (Daybreak NG, 8 October 2022). The fear is that the ‘abduction industry’ has received a boost through such ‘positive results’ and that this whole tragedy will be copied again and again, with no one being arrested and brought to justice. The government is either weak or would seem to be siding with those fueling Islamist aggression. A new Internet documentary uploaded by an investigative journalist would seem to indicate the latter (YouTube, 27 September 2022). The 25-minute documentary entitled ‘Cornflakes for jihad’ exposes the background influence of the Izala Movement and how it has been facilitating the operations of Boko Haram. The documentary even suggests that the Izala Movement has been acting as an established link between government and Boko Haram leadership.”