News

FG Didn’t Pay Ransom For Newly-Freed Train Passengers – Minister

Published

2 years ago

Oct 7, 2022.

A minister has said the Federal Government did not pay random for the newly-freed train passengers.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of Transportation, Mua’zu Sambo, has said the Federal Government did not pay ransom to secure the release of the remaining captives linked to the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Recall that terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train on March 28, killing some passengers and kidnapping about 61.

Subsequently, several batches of abductees were released.

The Federal Government announced the release of the last batch on Wednesday.

Speaking with journalists on Friday, the transportation minister dismissed any insinuation that the government paid ransom to secure the release of the abductees.

He stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has zero tolerance for ransom payment.

According to Sambo, a committee made up of some retired generals and retired public officers of high ranking assisted the military throughout the process of securing the release of the abductees.

“In matters that involve national security and intelligence, it is not appropriate to review exactly what measures has been taken in order to secure release of hostages of this nature,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“It is the position of this government that under no circumstances should there be collateral damage.

“I want to state categorically, that because this government does not support and approve of ransom payment, no kobo was paid in exchange for the release of these 23 hostages; indeed for the other ones as well.”

The minister also gave an update on the resumption of the railway service, saying plans are underway to do so but there are measures that need to be put in place to prevent a future attack.

“We have a short term and long term plan. The short term measures will be put in place very quickly to enable rail services commence,” Sambo said.