Tukur Mamu, Publisher, Desert Herald and Spokesman of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi
THE link man between the Federal Government and the terrorists who attacked the Abuja /Kaduna train, Tukur Mamu, has affirmed that the 62 abducted train passengers will be released soon if both parties keep to the current negotiations reached between them.
Speaking in an interview in Kaduna on Tuesday, Mamu, who is also the spokesman for Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, said apart from releasing the terrorists’ eight children in detention, part of the negotiation with the group is that the government should consider releasing their commanders and some of their leaders.
Mamu said: “They want a situation where all these people mentioned will be exchanged with the train passengers on the basis of prisoners of war.”
Mamu, who has been acting as a link between the terrorists and government, expressed hope that the train passengers may soon be released if the Federal Government accepts the demand of the abductors.
He said negotiations between government agents and the terrorists had started prior to his involvement, just as he added that he had been able to secure the assurances and confidence of the terrorists, which he said would lead to the release of the victims.
“I think it is important for the public to understand that there was an initial discussion with agents of government that they [government] should release their children as a precondition for any engagement that will lead to the release of the train victims with them.