Abdulmalik Atta, a member of the presidential committee set
up to facilitate the release of train passengers abducted in Kaduna has spoken
on the panel’s activities.
Atta spoke on Friday when he featured on Sunrise Daily, a
programme on Channels Television.
On Wednesday, the federal government announced the rescue of
the remaining passengers who were still in captivity.
Tukur Mamu, an aide to Ahmad Gumi, a popular Islamic cleric,
was involved in negotiations for the release of the passengers abducted during the
attack on a Kaduna-bound train in March.
He was, however, arrested in September at the Kano
International Airport after he returned from Egypt where he had been detained
on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had described the
outcome of its investigation on Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald, as
“mind-boggling”.
Speaking on Friday, Atta said Mamu “betrayed” the federal
government during negotiations for the release of the abductees.
He said the kidnappers did not demand ransom at first, but
that Mamu “put money issue” into the negotiation.
“It has been six months and one week, but we thank God
everything has come to an end now, thanks to the support from the federal
government through the office of the chief of defence staff,” he said.
“We were able to go into the bush and bring back the
remaining 23 families, not through our making but because somebody betrayed the
committee and the government. That’s in the person of Tukur Mamu, who did
everything within his reach to thwart the efforts the government put in place —
all in his interest.
“As we all know, he’s in the hands of the government now.
Alhamdulillah, all the family members are back.
“The bandits never
asked for money ab initio, but he put money issue into the whole thing and
derailed the process and kept everybody for the past six months.
“We just parted away with about $200,000. Thank God the CDS
took it upon himself, and put in place a committee that never asked for one
kobo.
“Every sacrifice being done so far has been personal towards
ensuring the release of the victims. I am happy to tell you that I worked with
credible members of the highest order.
“If I have my way, all of them will be given national honour
because we had to risk our lives, went into the bush, slept in the bush, and
heard the complaints of these people. Even though we knew what they did was
wrong, we had to engage them.
“Going forward, our
security agents must synergise their operations and the government should open
more rooms for engagement.”
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