Hassan Uthman, one of the recently freed Abuja-Kaduna train
attack passengers, has narrated his four-month ordeal in captivity.
Uthman recounted his experience in an interview with the BBC
Hausa service. He spoke on how they were thoroughly beaten by the
terrorists.
Uthman said they were initially sleeping on the bare ground
in the thick forest but later, they were provided with mats and when it rained,
the terrorists erected makeshift shelters for them.
“We were seriously beaten as seen in the video and it is as
a result of the failure to rescue us by the government. Because of the government’s
attitude, they were angered and they thoroughly beat us. We were severely
flogged and that was just the beginning. This makes me pity those that are
still with them in the forest.”
“In terms of feeding, the hey fed us according to their
capacity. At times, they even slaughtered cattle and sheep for us. Even the day
before yesterday they slaughtered a cow and we ate, we thank Allah.
“I couldn’t locate the forest we were taken, since the
Federal government had failed to rescue us for the past 4 months, the
international community should come in and rescue the remaining victims who
were in a pitiable condition in the forest,” he said.
Uthman added, “Our relatives facilitated our release, they
initially tried but the government stopped them and now succeeded.
“I don’t know if they paid ransom or not, three of us are
released today, the remaining in captivity are up to 40.”
Daily Trust had exclusively reported how eight hundred
million naira was paid to the terrorists holding captives from the train
service attack before the last seven victims were released.
