Thirty days after, government is yet to reach out directly to families of those abducted during the bomb attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train.
Chairman of the families, Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh disclosed this to The PUNCH, saying they are still under trauma from that singular incident.
Jimoh said they are ready to negotiate with the terrorists so that their relatives can be released from captivity, adding that uptill this moment, they do not know the true situation of things as far as their people were concerned.
On Tuesday, the terrorists released a single photo showing 62 of the passengers abducted a month ago. Before then, the bandits released video footage of the hostages. In the attack, the terrorists killed at least nine passengers and wounded 26 others when they sprayed the coaches with bullets.
He said with the terrorist insisting that they will only negotiate with the government, no government official has reached out to them to know what is to be done to ensure the release of those kidnapped.
Jimoh lamented that because of the stand of the kidnappers to only talk with the government, there has been no contact between the terrorists and them the representatives of families of the kidnapped victims.
“From what they (terrorists) said, it was the government they want to talk to so that’s why they have not called us. But assuming there is an option, we would have explored the option.
“They (terrorists) are not calling anybody and we can’t reach them. It’s only the government that can talk to them.”
“Just like you asked if it’s an option to negotiate with the bandits, you know, for now, it’s not an option. I mean, talking with the bandits. We don’t have that option yet but of course, if there is an option and it’s the only option that we have, we will discuss it with them.
“For now, we don’t have that option because we can’t reach them and they can’t reach us. It’s not the preferred option. If it is the option they have that can solve our problem, fine.”
Jimoh pleaded with the bandits not to hurt their loved ones and set them free, saying their relatives has no hand in what goes on between them and the government.
