The BoA MD who was flanked by heavily armed terrorists in a video was directed to speak. He pleaded with the government to listen to the terrorists so that other captives can be released.
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The terrorists that abducted the Bank of Agriculture Managing Director, Alwan Ali-Hassan and 167 other passengers of the bombed Kaduna train said they released him on compassionate ground.
But a family member of Alwan Hassan claimed they paid N100m to secure his release, according to reporting by Daily Nigerian.
Alwan Hassan regained freedom after spending 10 days in terrorists’ captivity.
The newspaper said the kidnappers earlier sent the family a video of the harrowing experience of Alwan Hassan which triggered panic among family members who hurriedly raise the amount.
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Terrorists release BoA MD on compassionate ground
“A few days earlier, they sent the video of their harrowing condition in order to raise their stake. Alwan was always saying ‘give them whatever amount they want’. So, the family gave them what they insisted on… that is N100million,” said one of the family sources.
The newspaper said the kidnappers first asked the family to take the money to a forest in Katsina on Tuesday before asking them to make a detour to another forest in Kaduna.
The source added that after the family emissaries journeyed for hours in the bush, the gunmen appeared fully armed in their hundreds and collected the money.
But the terrorists in a video claimed they released the BoA MD on compassionate grounds due to his old age.
They said: “We are responsible for the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train and we are allowing the man to go because of his age and in the spirit of Ramadan.
“This is the tip of the iceberg. We are not after money and the government knows what we want,” he said.
The BoA MD who was flanked by heavily armed terrorists in the video was directed to speak. He pleaded with the government to listen to the terrorists so that other captives can be released.
He said: “There are many captives with our abductors here and out of pity, they decided to release me and due to the month of Ramadan, I am appealing to the government to save the lives of others with them.”