Solicitor appeals to govt for quick intervention as abducted train passengers’ lives under snake threat
A Kaduna-based publisher and spokesman to Sheik Ahmad Gumi, Malam Tukur Mamu has appealed to the Federal Government for quick intervention to rescue the remaining remaining passengers kidnapped by terrorists on the Abuja-Kaduna train in March.
He made the appeal as he raised the alarm that lives of the abducted passengers are under threat by snake bites and other life threatening sickness.
Mamu, who was also one of the negotiators that facilitated the release of 11 victims, said in addition to sicknesses that are threatening the lives of many hostages, snakes are another serious issue.
Mamu told newsmen in Kaduna on Monday that: “I can confirm to you that there are many snakes in that forest. Some of them (passengers) have been bitten by snake bites, which appear frequently in the night. The captives only have access to local treatment.
“The bites as we know can be life threatening. Government is the only authority with the means and power to end this crisis as soon as possible. And with the right approach I can assure you it can be achieved within days or weeks. We have proven that in the release of the 11 victims,” he said.
He warned that most of the remaining victims of the attack may hardly survive the next few weeks due to their deteriorating health conditions and the inhumane condition they are subjected to in the forest on a daily basis.
He, however, confirmed that the victims were not being molested or beaten in any way, but warned that efforts to rescue them must be treated as a national emergency if the government wants most of them to come back alive.
