By Linus Aleke and Cross Udo, Abuja
Finally, the Nigerian Military has secured the release of the remaining 23 victims of terrorist attack in the Abuja-Kaduna bound train over six months of torture and dehumanizing treatment from the abductors.

The seven-member Presidential Committee, inaugurated by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, yesterday took custody of the 23 remaining passengers held hostage by Boko Haram, at exactly 4pm, the committee said, in a statement.

The statement signed by the Secretary, Chief of Defence Staff Action Committee (CDSAC), Prof Usman Yusuf read, “I am pleased to announce to the nation and the world that at 4pm today, Wednesday 5-10-2022, the seven-man Presidential Committee assembled by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General L E O Irabor, secured the release and took custody of all the 23 remaining passengers held hostage by Boko Haram Terrorists following the attack on the Abuja to Kaduna train on 28-3-2022.”

Usman said the nation owes a debt of gratitude to the Nigerian Military under the leadership of the CDS who conceived and guided the operation from start to finish.

He disclosed, that all sister Security Agencies and the Federal Ministry of Transportation, also contributed immensely to this Operation.

“The unwavering support of the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, is what made it all possible. Members of this Committee are grateful for the rare honour and privilege to be part of this Humanitarian Operation. May God Almighty Heal Our Wounds and Bring Peace to Our Land,” it added.

Meanwhile, since, March 28, 2022, when the terrorists successfully attacked the train, killed many, and took the rest hostage, the victims had been released piecemeal with millions of naira extorted from their family members through ransom payment.

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The self-styled terrorists’ negotiator, Tukur Mamu, played a prominent role in the process of ransom negotiation.

However, at the time of filing this report, it was still unclear whether the government paid, ransom before securing the release of the remaining 23 train victims from the terrorists.

The statement that announced the release was also silent on whether an arrest was made during the said operation.

Nevertheless, sources close to the military and other security agencies believe, the release is not unconnected with the humiliation and embarrassment suffered by the Federal Government, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and other security agencies, when the abductors released a video of 42 victims of the train attack been flogged mercilessly.

The video, which trended on all the social media platforms and enjoyed wide publications by the traditional media, also caused serious embarrassment to the government.

Another source added that the threat by the terrorists to abduct President Buhari, along with some prominent governors including the Kaduna state governor, also, pushed the government to take urgent and drastic measures that mid-wife today’s success story.

The presidency had at the time said, it would not play into the terrorists’ bait, because its security was neither clueless nor helpless on what to do, both to tame general insecurity and rescue the victims in their den.

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The Managing Director of the Bank of the Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, was the first to be released after reportedly paying N100m ransom on April 7.

The terrorists also at some point requested a prison swap with its high-profile members in custody of the state.

A source said the attack on Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja was also not unconnected with Federal Government’s refusal to honour such demand.

Recall also, that the release of the remaining passengers is coming barely one month after the arrest of the former negotiator.

*Release excites Buhari

Following the development, President Buhari yesterday expressed his happiness and satisfaction, and that of the entire nation with the military as well as other security agencies on the safe release of the remaining 23 kidnapped train passengers held in captivity by Boko Haram terrorists.

In a reaction to the news of the safe release of the hostages in line with his earlier directives, President Buhari said the nation owed the military and all other security and intelligence agencies a debt of gratitude for the successful conduct of the operation leading to the release of the hostages, saying that these agencies had shown outstanding capabilities over this period that the whole world will not fail to take note of.

The President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, was quoted as saying, “This country’s Armed Forces are as good as any. Given needed support and encouragement as we have been doing, there is no task that they cannot accomplish. I commend them for this remarkable outcome.”

In expressing satisfaction with the successful deployment of both kinetic and non-kinetic processes leading to the eventual safe release of the remaining hostages, President Buhari also congratulated the victims’ families for having them back alive.

He directed that the relief that comes to the nation arising from the closure of this unfortunate saga must be sustained at all times, all over the federation.

The President also credited his government for resolving the issue and the de-escalation of the terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping that surged recently, giving assurances that the efforts will be sustained.