Kaduna Train Attack: I Paid ₦80 Million Ransom for My Mother and Sister’s Release – Witness Testifies

In a gripping testimony before the Federal High Court in Abuja, a masked witness identified as Prosecution Witness-D (PW-D) has revealed that he paid a staggering ₦80 million ransom to secure the release of his mother and sister, who were abducted during the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train terrorist attack.

PW-D, who testified before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday, detailed his harrowing ordeal in the ongoing trial of Tukur Mamu, a self-proclaimed kidnap negotiator facing a 10-count terrorism charge.

Recounting the events of March 28, 2022, the witness stated that he received a distressing call at around 8:30 PM, informing him that his mother and sister were aboard the ill-fated train when it was ambushed by terrorists. The attack, which sent shockwaves across the nation, left some passengers killed, injured, or abducted.

> “The following morning, I rushed to Kaduna Hospital, where the injured passengers were being treated, hoping to find my family. But after searching desperately, I realized my worst fears – they had been kidnapped,” he narrated.

Two weeks after the attack, the witness received a terrifying phone call from the kidnappers. The caller forced him to speak with his sister, confirming that she and their mother were in captivity.

> “For about two weeks, I maintained contact with the kidnappers, hoping to negotiate their release. But then came the bombshell – they demanded ₦200 million ransom for each victim,” he said.



While some families of abducted passengers managed to negotiate and pay ransoms, PW-D continued pleading for a lower sum. After a month of relentless negotiations, the terrorists reduced their demand, and he ultimately paid ₦80 million to secure the release of his mother and sister, along with two other hostages.

The witness further testified that the terrorists instructed him to contact four journalists to facilitate the negotiation process. This revelation adds a new twist to the trial of Tukur Mamu, the accused kidnap negotiator who was reportedly involved in ransom discussions between the terrorists and victims’ families.

Mamu, a former publisher and alleged terrorism financier, is currently facing multiple charges, including conspiracy, aiding terrorist activities, and financing ransom payments.

As the trial continues, PW-D’s testimony sheds new light on the ruthless operations of the kidnappers, the heart-wrenching experiences of victims’ families, and the alleged complicity of intermediaries in one of Nigeria’s most brazen terrorist attacks.