Families of abducted train passengers thinking of suicide ― Forum chairman

Family members of the abducted Abuja-Kaduna train passengers are thinking of committing suicide.

“The thought of the harrowing experience of their loved ones in the kidnappers’ den has made some of us start thinking of committing suicide,” Chairman of the forum of kidnapped train passengers, Dr AbdulFatai Jimoh, said while addressing newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday.

He said while they were happy over the release of 11 hostages by the bandits, family members of the other hostages in captivity are already battling depression with suicidal thoughts.

Jimoh appealed to the Federal Government to speed up the process of the release of the remaining 50 hostages who had spent 87 days in captivity.

“Since this dark day of 28th March 2022, only 11 people out of the abducted citizens have been reunited with their families, leaving behind 50 innocent Nigerians in the hands of their abductors under horrible conditions of living.

“Our hearts were gladdened on Tuesday, 21 June 2022 when Mr President issued fresh orders to security chiefs to spare no effort in freeing the remaining 50 hostages alive and in the shortest time possible.

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“Our joy will know no bounds if this presidential directive is given accelerated action that results in a positive outcome.”

“It is necessary to restate that our family members still in captivity are living under horrendous conditions, many of them are sick with poor medical care in addition to poor nutrition, environmental hazards and more frighteningly living in perpetual fear of threat to life.

“These conditions have led to deteriorating health status – both physical and psychological of the hostages and it calls for urgent rescue efforts.

“Family members of these hostages are not left out in this harrowing experience with some already in depression with suicidal thoughts. We cannot wait to see the end of this nightmare.

“While we had expected all the women and children, 22 people in total, held hostage to have been released in the first phase of the negotiation with the abductors, we are glad to receive the 11 persons now rescued, but our joy will only be complete when all abductees regain their freedom.

“We commend the efforts of the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Heads of Security Agencies, the Presidential Committee, Institutions, Organizations and individuals who had collectively worked tirelessly for the success of the first phase of negotiation.

“We learnt that negotiations are ongoing for the second phase and we hope and pray that this phase will be the final phase to bring this sad incident to a joyful closure with the release of the remaining 50 captives and in the shortest time possible,” he said.