The 63 kidnapped victims of the March 28 attack on the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train have called on the federal government to compensate them for the trauma they underwent while they were held hostage so that they can start their lives anew.
Their demand came barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Railway Corporation resumed train services on the Abuja-Kaduna route.
Speaking to journalists in Kaduna yesterday, Mariam Idris and Bala Mohammed who spoke on behalf of the victims lamented that most of them lost their means of livelihood during the period they were in the custody of the terrorists who kidnapped them during that attack.
They also claimed that the federal government was yet to fulfil the promises made to them shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari upon their release in October.
They said most of them were already suffering from depression and psychological disorder that required urgent medical attention.
“The Federal Government officials collected our contact and promised to get back to us. But up till now, nobody has done that. Most of us that were working in private organisations lost our jobs because our employers had to replace us. They could not wait for us. We lost our sources of income.
“As a proud citizen of Nigeria, I expected so much more from the Federal Government. I am expecting the Federal Government to call us and ask: what is happening with your lives? They should sit with those who lost their jobs and see how our lives will be better,” Idris said.
Mohammed also said: “Some people believe that the federal government gave us money. In fact, the very week I came back from captivity, my landlord came to demand for my rent. When I gave an excuse, he told me I should give him from the money the federal government gave us.”
