FG released wife, children of Abuja-Kaduna train attack gang leader, yet he refused to free the victims – Presidency

The presidency has said that the federal government has done all it can to ensure the release of those abducted by kidnappers who attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train.

Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu who spoke in an interview with BBC Hausa service on Friday, August 12, said the terrorists’ leader demanded the release of his wife, newly born twins and seven other children who were in prison custody.

According to him, the government complied with the demand so the abducted victims could be released.

Stressing that it is wrong to say that nothing has been done to secure the release of all the captives, he added that the federal government would ensure the release of the remaining victims in captivity.

He said: “Anyone who says the government is not doing anything about their release might be unaware of efforts government is making.

“Let me tell you, initially the gang leader demanded the release of his pregnant wife who was in jail. The govt took her to a hospital where she gave birth to twins and informed him that his wife and the twins are in good health and later all three were freed.

“He refused to free the victims, but he gave a fresh demand of releasing 6 or 7 of his children from prison. Not only did the government release them from jail, it sent a plane to fly them from Adamawa, where they were detained, and delivered them to the terrorists.

“Again, they refused to release the victims. Instead, they asked for money, so you can not say the government is doing nothing.”