…Train service to resume soon, Transport Minister assures
The Federal Government, yesterday, said no money was paid to secure the release of the 23 remaining kidnapped train passengers.
The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, disclosed this in Abuja, at a press briefing organised to officially welcome the 23 released kidnapped train passengers of March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Sambo told newsmen yesterday, in Abuja, that “no kobo was paid in exchange for the release of the last 23 hostages and other ones as well”. The Minister said that President Buhari-led administration had zero tolerance for ransom payment.
On why the victims were not present at the briefing, the Minister said they required medical care and that certain other procedures were required after their rescue. He, however, noted that after the meeting of the hostages with the President yesterday, they were united with their families.
Speaking on the purported payment of ransom, he stated that a committee of retired military Generals assisted in securing the release of the victims, but insisted that the Buhari-led administration did not approve or support ransom payments for the release of the 23 victims.
Sambo further said that following the release of the victims, plans were underway to soon resume the train services in earnest, saying the Government will come up with a short and long-term sustainable plan in a few months to ensure the safety of the rail line and passengers.
He added that the government would rather halt rail services all through the country just to secure the lives of Nigerians.
