**Demand immediate release of children of the abductors to appease them
The families of the abducted victims of the Ak9 train passengers on 28th March, 2022 have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to kindly consider and answer to the demands of the abductors of their family members and save Fellow Nigerians.
They also called on the service chiefs, the head of security agencies, national and international human rights organizations, to rescue their families.
This was coming against the backdrop that the abductors of the victims who are their family members have threatened by issuing an ultimatum of seven days within which their loved ones would be slaughtered if Government fails to meet their own demands.
Addressing a press conference in at the NUJ Press Center in Abuja on Wednesday, Matilda Kabiru Muhammed whose husband is one of the abductees also challenged all the presidential aspirants letting them know that it is not a time for them to be selfish with their ideas and plans. “Share them, make your campaign promises a campaign reality.”
“Permit me to say, there is nothing good about this Afternoon. Yesterday, we received a most heart breaking ultimatum from the abductors of the Ak9 train passengers that departed from Abuja on 28th March, 2022 at 6:10pm heading to Kaduna but never got to its destination.
“The shocker is one which prompted this Afternoon address, the past 58 days have been those of unprecedented agony.
Although hopefull of seeing our loved ones again, Yesterday took the winds out of our sails.
“Whatever hope we have been holding onto, seems to be slipping through our fingers. We are a family. Nigeria is one big family, Africa is one big family, the entire world is a harmonious family having descended from The first Man and woman, Adam & Eve.
“We owe ourselves a brotherhood and we deserve a sisterhood.
We might not share the same name, religion, tribe, nation, language or skin colour but we share the exact composition that makes us all same, that is our humanity, no human is made different from the other.
“From conception to death, we all thread the same evolution. This
message today is to appeal to our humanity towards other humans.
Matilda Kabiru Muhammed who broke down in tears while addressing newsmen said,
“Yesterday, we found out through the media of an ultimatum by the abductors of our loved ones to release their own children who were held captive and separated from their mothers. These are toddlers from the report that we heard are Kids between 1 to 11yrs.
“The scariest part of this ultimatum is the threat to life.What world is this? What manner of betrayal is this? Where is the humanity in this?
“The whole world seems to have moved on but for us, we still live in 28th of March. The days might have gone by but we haven’t. And the world shouldn’t.
“This fight goes beyond the 60 plus people in captivity, it is an accountability, owed to us by the people meant to lead and govern us.
“It is breaking a promise made to serve and protect not just them, but us all, every society is as good as the history it sets for future generations to look at.
“The children in captivity have had a major life shift whether we will admit it or not. Both the abductors and the abductees.
“These are our future tomorrow, and i ask you now “what do you think the future holds for them?
“7 days until we are not able to say we have a system that works for the common man. 7 days, should we expect a funeral or a liberation?
“7 days, for parent to either hug or mourn their children? 7 days for some wives to adorn themselves the title of widows and husbands to become widowers. 7 days, until children are called orphans. 7 days, until insurgency and banditry wins.
7 days, that is just like today.
She said all the abductees are alao the family of President Buhari
“There can be no negotiation without dialogue. Do not close the chapter on our story, it will forever change the course of history. Release their children let us have our family, and your family back. Do not turn a blind eye on our plight.
The aggrieved families of the abducted passengers carried placards with various inscription demanding for urgent action before it is too late.
They said they don’t want to bury their loved ones but to reunite with them again.