Families of the abducted train passengers have demanded the immediate release of the children of terrorists currently being held hostage by the Federal Government.
Their plea followed the prolonged detention of their loved ones by terrorists, demanding the release of their children who were arrested and detained by security agencies in Adamawa State.
The terrorists had asked that their children taken from their mothers be released unconditionally in the next five days or they will kill the 62 passengers abducted by them over two months ago.
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The families who took to the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) quarters in Abuja displayed various placards with inscriptions calling on the government to come to their aid.
Speaking to the press, Matilda Kabiru Muhammed whose husband is in captivity said, “We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Service Chiefs, the head of security agencies, national and International Human Rights Organisations to rescue our families.
“They are your family too. 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 and let us have our family back. Do not turn a blind eye on our plight”.
Matilda, speaking on the behalf of the families pleaded in tears, noting that the children of the terrorists also in captivity have had a major shift, even for both the abductors and abductees.
She said, “The 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”.
The families further reacted to the ultimatum, expressing the uncertainty of their fate should the seven days issued by the terrorists elapse.
“Seven days, should we expect a funeral or a liberation. Seven days, for parents to either hug or mourn their children. Seven days for some wives to adorn themselves the title of widows and husbands to become widowers. Seven days until children are called orphans. Seven days, until insurgency and banditry win,” Matilda said.
The families unanimously called on all political aspirants to weigh in on the situation while appealing to the president to “consider and accede to the demand of the abductors of our family members and save innocent Nigerians and your citizens”.