A prosecution witness, identified as PW-D, has revealed in court that he paid N80 million to secure the release of his mother and sister after they were abducted during the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Testimony in Court
PW-D testified before Justice Inyang Ekwo at the Federal High Court in Abuja during the ongoing trial of Tukur Mamu, the alleged kidnap negotiator.
Mamu faces a 10-count terrorism charge related to ransom payments and dealings with the kidnappers.
The witness recounted how he was first informed on March 28, 2022, that his mother and sister were on the train when it was attacked by terrorists, leading to multiple kidnappings, deaths, and injuries.
He spent days searching for them in Kaduna hospitals, only to receive a call from the kidnappers two weeks later, confirming that his relatives were alive.
The Ransom Negotiation
Initially, the kidnappers demanded N200 million per victim, but through negotiations—allegedly involving Mamu—the amount was eventually reduced to N80 million.
PW-D revealed that he personally delivered the ransom in cash to Mamu, who then converted it to US dollars before handing it over to the abductors.
> “When I took the N80 million to Mamu, he asked me to convert it to dollars. After the exchange, I had $118,750, but two weeks later, he asked for more to round it up to $120,000.”
The transaction was finalized, and his mother and sister were released, along with two other victims.
Tukur Mamu’s Alleged Role
The Federal Government accuses Mamu of working as an intermediary for the Boko Haram terrorist group, allegedly collecting $420,000 from victims’ families while withholding some payments.
According to government prosecutors, Mamu:
Negotiated ransom payments on behalf of terrorists
Collected and stored illicit funds
Communicated with Boko Haram operatives
The case continues in court, with Mamu facing serious charges under the Terrorism Prevention Act.
The Bigger Picture
The Kaduna train attack remains one of Nigeria’s most devastating terror incidents, highlighting the ongoing security crisis and the ransom economy fueling kidnappings.
What’s Next?
As the case unfolds, Nigerians are demanding greater government action to curb terrorism and prevent families from paying hefty ransoms for their loved ones.
Have Your Say!
What do you think about the rising cases of ransom kidnappings? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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