#AK9Train:

Timeline From Attack To Release

HumAngle has compiled a timeline of the significant events since the day Nigeria awoke to the news of their kidnapping until the day the final group of victims were freed.

The remaining 23 passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train, held captive for over six months, were freed on Oct. 5 after the intervention of the Federal Government of Nigeria. 

It’s not yet clear how the safe return of the victims was secured. 

After 191 days in the hands of the terrorists who were seen mercilessly beating them in a video, the families of the victims who had been kidnapped have confirmed to HumAngle that they finally met with them. This is the last set of the abducted victims released by the terrorists. 

HumAngle has compiled a timeline of the significant events from the day Nigeria awoke to the news of their kidnapping until the day the final group of victims were freed.

Note: The timeline is interactive. Click on the boxes for more information.

March 28: Terrorists attack Abuja-Kaduna #AK9 train

March 28: Terrorists attack Abuja-Kaduna #AK9 train

An unspecified number of terrorists attacked the evening train carrying 362 passengers and 20 crew members from Abuja to Kaduna with explosives, causing it to stop, then opened fire on the train, injuring 28 passengers and kidnapping 63 more.

Following the attack, Nigerian security forces were sent to the scene to secure it and save the remaining passengers. The remaining passengers were divided into groups and transported to Kaduna state by vehicles.

It was the second time the train had been attacked. Five months before the incident, in October 2021, an explosion was set off on the track, but it did not derail the train.

March 29: Official acknowledgement of the attack

March 29: Official acknowledgement of the attack

The Nigerian Railway Commission (NRC) announced on its website and Twitter account that train operations had temporarily been suspended due to "unforeseen circumstances" and that more information would be provided later. 

On that day, President Muhammadu Buhari received a security briefing on the situation and ordered the immediate rescue of the kidnapped passengers. He also directed the installation of the Integrated Security Surveillance and Monitoring Solution for the railway running from Abuja to Kaduna.

April 6: Terrorists release video of hostages

April 6: Terrorists release video of hostages

Alwan Ali-Hassan, the managing director of the Bank of Agriculture, was one of the kidnapped victims. He was seen in the terrorists' one-minute-21-second video standing in the middle of the masked terrorists who were wearing military uniforms and brandishing weapons. The terrorists said the Federal Government knew what they were demanding.

In the video, they announced that they would release Ali-Hassan, saying they had taken into account both his age and "this month of Ramadan." Later, his family would claim that they had given a sizable sum of money to ensure his release.

April 10: Another hostages video released

April 10: Another hostages video released

A video obtained by HumAngle showed the victims in a field surrounded by terrorists. Alwan Ali-Hassan, who had already been freed at the time the video was released, was also featured in it, indicating that it had been pre-recorded. The victims pleaded with the government to secure their release, saying they were in a difficult situation because most of them were ill.

April 15: Relatives send warning to gov’t

April 15: Relatives send warning to gov’t

The relatives of the abducted passengers warned the NRC against resuming train service between Abuja and Kaduna. They issued the warning during their weekly meeting in Kaduna, stating that if their relatives were left in the hands of terrorists, they would disrupt the train's operations.

May 16: NRC ignores relatives, promises to resume operations

May 16: NRC ignores relatives, promises to resume operations

Despite the warning, the NRC went ahead and declared that the train services would resume running by May 23 with increased security. The NRC added that in order to guarantee the victims' safe return, it had been in contact with their families.

May 19: Relatives, Nigerians, protest train operation resumption

May 19: Relatives, Nigerians, protest train operation resumption

The resumption of the train services was opposed by many Nigerians and the victims' relatives, who said it was disrespectful to their situation. The chairman of the group of relatives, Dr Abdulfatai Jimoh, stated that the train service shouldn't continue until the Federal Government ensured the safety of their families.

May 21: NRC suspends operations on Kaduna-Abuja rail line

May 21: NRC suspends operations on Kaduna-Abuja rail line

In response to criticism of its initial announcement, NRC made another announcement that it had suspended the anticipated resumption once more. The NRC spokesperson promised to announce a new date for the restart.

May 27: Relatives declare an intention to negotiate with terrorists

May 27: Relatives declare an intention to negotiate with terrorists

The relatives of the kidnapped passengers declared that they were prepared to negotiate with the terrorists in order to secure their loved ones' release. The chairman said they would do everything necessary to secure the release of their relatives during a press conference.

June 11: Kaduna publisher, Mamu, helps to secure the release of hostages

June 11: Kaduna publisher, Mamu, helps to secure the release of hostages

Tukur Mamu, a publisher based in Kaduna, helped in securing the release of 11 additional passengers, including six women and five men. Amina Ba'aba Mohammed, Rashida Yusuf Busa, Jessey John, Hannah Ajewole, Amina Jibril, Najib Mohammed Dahiru, Hassan Aliyu, Peace A. Boy, Danjuma Sa'idu, and Gaius Gambo are the names of those who have been freed.

June 29: Hostage shot in gunfire exchange

June 29: Hostage shot in gunfire exchange

Mamu told reporters that the train attackers shot Mohammed Al-Amin, one of the kidnapped passengers in their custody, during an "exchange of fire at the forest among the abductors that are guarding the victims and preventing them from possible escape."

July 9: More hostages freed

July 9: More hostages freed

Seven additional victims were freed through Mamu after paying an ₦800 million ransom. Muhammad Daiyabu Paki, Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule, Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, Aliyu Usman, and a Pakistani man named Muhammad Abuzar Afzal were among the hostages who were freed. For this release, they each paid ₦100 million, and the Pakistani paid ₦200 million.

July 24: Terrorists beat hostages. Threaten to attack Kaduna state governor

July 24: Terrorists beat hostages. Threaten to attack Kaduna state governor

The terrorists were seen brutally beating men, women, and children in a new propaganda video. They also threatened to kidnap Nasiru El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna, and President Muhammadu Buhari.

The video led to outcries and demonstrations demanding the release of the remaining victims in Kaduna and Abuja. The footage also trended on various social media platforms showing the victims calling for international rescue efforts.

July 25: Four hostages freed

July 25: Four hostages freed

An additional set of four passengers—a woman and three men—were freed by the terrorists. They were Gladys Brumen, Oluwatoyin Ojo, Hassan Lawan, and Pastor Ayodeji Oyewumi.

August 2: Five hostages released

August 2: Five hostages released

Five more victims were released by the kidnappers. The names of the passengers were Professor Mustapha Umar Imam, a physician at the Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, along with Akibu Lawal, Abubakar Ahmed Rufai, Mukhtar Shu'aibu, and Sidi Aminu Sharif.

August 10: Seven hostages, including children, released

August 10: Seven hostages, including children, released

Seven more victims were released by the terrorists, including a couple, their four children, and an elderly woman whose health had deteriorated. Along with four of their kids, the couple Maryam Bobbo and Abubakar Garba were all freed. Aisha Hassan, 60, was the name of the elderly woman.

August 19: Elderly hostages freed

August 19: Elderly hostages freed

Two men and two women were among the additional four victims that the terrorists released that day. They were identified as 90-year-old Mama Halimatu Atta, 53-year-old Adama Atta Aliyu, and Muhammad Sani Abdulmajid of Tudun Wada Kaduna, as well as Alhaji Modin Modi Bodinga, a native of Sokoto state.

September 7: Kaduna publisher/negotiator arrested by SSS

September 7: Kaduna publisher/negotiator arrested by SSS

Tukur Mamu was arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) upon his arrival in Kano from Egypt, where he had been intercepted as a person of interest while attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj. According to the SSS spokesperson, Mamu was detained after the Nigerian Military asked him to respond to some inquiries about the country's security situation.

September 13: Court authorises SSS to hold publisher/negotiator

September 13: Court authorises SSS to hold publisher/negotiator

A court in Abuja authorised the SSS to hold Mamu for 60 days while looking into an accusation that he was providing logistical support to terrorists and aiding and abetting terrorism in Nigeria.

October 5: The final group of hostages released

October 5: The final group of hostages released

The final group of the kidnapped victims, the remaining 23 passengers, were freed by the terrorists.

Credits

Interactive Editor/Producer: Muhammed Akinyemi

Editors: Andrew Walker, ‘Kunle Adebajo, Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu

Web design: Attahiru Jibrin

Cover design: Akila Jibrin

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without proper attribution to HumAngle, generally including the author’s name, a link to the publication and a line of acknowledgement.

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