About 100 passengers who were abducted from the train, which derailed at Katari in kaduna state, may still spend more days in captivity as there are indications that negotiations between the federal government and the terrorists that carried out the attack have stalled, following the refusal of the government to accede to their demands.
Metronetworknes gathered that the demand by the attackers for the release of 16 of their commanders and sponsors in custody in exchange for the abducted victims as well as payment of ransom on the abductees were not acceptable to the government.
Security sources said the authorities were still negotiating with the terrorists, while exploring other options to rescue the abductees, who were seen in a viral video sitting under a tree at an unknown location, believed to be the bandits’ camp.
A source said, “The Federal Government is looking into their demands because of the hostages, but the government is being cautious; it cannot meet the demands of the terrorists. The last time the government released some commanders, they went back and the insurgency became worse.
“So, nobody is considering releasing the commanders. The terrorists were also given money previously and the situation did not improve.”
It was also gathered that the terrorists might soon request for ransom from the families of the hostages, owing to the lack of progress in the negotiations.
