Kaduna train kidnappers release bank boss after his family allegedly hands over N100m

KIDNAPPED Bank of Agriculture managing director Alwan  Ali Hassan was released by his captors yesterday after his family reportedly handed over a ransom fee of N100m ($240,258) to the kidnappers who abducted him in the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28.

Mr Hassan, who was abducted during the bloody assault on the train, was released yesterday after spending about 10 days in captivity. Although the terrorists had claimed that no ransom was paid in a short video, a source close to the family said a huge fee was paid to secure his release.

According to some media sources, Mr Hassan's family sold his Abuja house to raise the ransom money. Earlier this week, the kidnappers published a video of Mr Hassan in captivity  on what was seen as an attempt to raise the stakes and in it, Alwan was yelling his family to give them whatever amount they want.

After recording it, the kidnappers sent the video to Mr Hassan's family, showing the  conditions he and the other 162 captives were living in. Mr Hassan was freed yesterday but the kidnappers denied they received any ransom, saying they let him go in the spirit of Ramadan.

In the 81-second video recorded, Mr Hassan was flanked by four heavily armed men dressed in military camouflage. After a short prayer and praise of God and his prophet in Arabic language, one of the terrorists conformed they were the ones who kidnapped the people on the train.

That Abuja to Kaduna train officially had over 362 passengers but unconfirmed reports claimed they were more than that. Some of the passengers have been confirmed dead, others were injured and some are still being held in captivity.

One of the terrorists said: "We decided to release this man Ali Hassan because of the honour of the month of Ramadan and because he is old. He has been pleading since we kidnapped him. The government should know that the train attack is just a little of what we can do.”

Analysts said that early evidence suggests that Abuja-Kaduna train attackers are Boko Haram fighters. Of late, terrorists, bandits and kidnappers have been on the rampage across northern Nigeria, especially in Kaduna State.