The Ministry of Transportation has disclosed that the government was doing a lot to ensure that passengers kidnapped during a recent terror attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train regains freedom.
The Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki, while speaking Thursday in Abuja at the 2021 ministerial press briefing for the ministry said the ministry could not disclose all that was being done to ensure the safe return of the abducted passengers.
She added that efforts were being made to ensure that no life was lost among those kidnapped.
Members of families of kidnapped passengers who boarded the Abuja-Kaduna train that was attacked on March 28, 2022, staged a surprise protest at the venue of a ministerial press briefing organised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation in Abuja. They displayed placards demanding the government to do everything to rescue their loved ones.
One of the protesters, Idayat Yusuf, who has two sisters still with their abductors, spoke to journalists in tears pleaded with the government to help rescue their loved ones.
In her words, “The government should come to the aid of those who are alive. We are sorry and sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives and those in the hospital. But for those who are alive, at least government should bring them back.
“We are praying for the government to be able to rescue them. Two of my sisters from the same mother and father are among those kidnapped.”
Another protester, Aminu Othman, who also has a brother with the terrorists, alleged that the Federal Government has not been forthcoming with information as regards those abducted.
He disclosed that the families of the victims decided to stage a protest at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, before they were informed that the ministry was holding a press briefing at the Radio House, Abuja.
He said, “ For the past 10 days, we’ve not heard anything from the government. My immediate younger brother and his wife are among the victims and they are still with the kidnappers.
“It is the most difficult 10 days I’ve ever had in my life. It is a nightmare for me. We can’t sleep, we can’t eat and it’s been seriously tough for us.”
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria was however conspicuously absent as heads of agencies under the supervision of the ministry took turns to reel out achievements made by their different organisations.
