A dramatic account of ransom negotiations emerged in a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday as a key witness disclosed how he paid N80 million to secure the release of his mother and sister following the harrowing 2022 Kaduna train attack. The eye-opening testimony, delivered by a masked witness known as Prosecution Witness-D (PW-D), detailed the horrors faced by the victims and the shocking figures involved in the ransom process.
The witness, who had been desperately trying to rescue his loved ones from the clutches of the kidnappers, told the court that after two weeks of intense negotiations, he was forced to part with a staggering N80 million to free his mother and sister, alongside two other victims. This chilling account comes amidst the ongoing trial of Tukur Mamu, a self-proclaimed kidnap negotiator, who stands accused of aiding terrorist operations in connection to the attack.
It all began on the evening of March 28, 2022, when the witness received a distressing call at around 8:30 p.m. His mother and sister were on board the Abuja-Kaduna train that was ambushed by terrorists, some passengers killed and others abducted. The next day, he rushed to a hospital in Kaduna, where survivors were being treated, but there was no sign of his family. Two weeks later, a call came through from the kidnappers, marking the start of a long and painful ordeal.
“I was told by the kidnappers to speak with my sister, and that was the moment I confirmed they were alive,” the witness recalled. “They kept demanding N200 million each for the release of the victims, a price that was simply beyond our means.”
As the negotiations stretched on, the witness, whose identity remains confidential for safety reasons, shared how the kidnappers eventually provided him with the names of four journalists they wanted to be involved in the negotiation. Out of the four, only Tukur Mamu agreed to take on the role of a negotiator.
Mamu’s involvement would drastically change the course of the negotiations. PW-D described how Mamu became the sole point of contact, halting direct communication between the kidnappers and the victim’s family.
“I was told by the kidnappers that my mother and sister were not their primary targets,” the witness continued, recounting his sister’s update. “They were just caught up in the situation. The kidnappers assured me that they were in good health, but the price kept rising.”
As the deadline loomed, the victim’s family struggled to meet the ransom demands. At one point, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, and former Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, intervened, linking the family to a federal committee designed to facilitate victim releases.
Despite efforts from the committee, the kidnappers continued to call the shots, demanding ever-larger sums. Eventually, the ransom was reduced from N200 million to N80 million, a payment the family was able to assemble. This sum, however, was not paid in naira but in U.S. dollars, further highlighting the sinister nature of the transaction.
On a fateful day in August 2022, the witness transported the ransom money—converted to a total of 118,750 U.S. dollars—on Mamu’s instructions. But it didn’t stop there. “Mamu called me two weeks later, demanding more money to make it a total of 120,000 dollars,” the witness revealed. The kidnappers, Mamu claimed, were facing difficulties due to the terrain, delaying the handover.
The ordeal finally came to an end when the witness drove out from Mamu’s compound in a hired vehicle, loaded with the last set of goods demanded by the kidnappers. “They asked for bread and milk,” the witness recalled. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I followed the instructions.”
After a tense journey, the witness was led to a remote location near Binin Gwari, where the kidnappers, true to their word, released his mother, sister, and the other two victims. The emotional reunion was a bittersweet moment for the family, who had already endured weeks of uncertainty, fear, and financial strain.
Under cross-examination, the defense lawyer, Abdul Mohammed SAN, questioned the witness about the role Mamu played in the negotiations. PW-D confirmed that Mamu had been the primary intermediary, but he stressed that he never knew the details of government involvement or whether the Committee led by Irabor had communicated directly with Mamu.
“He (Mamu) always insisted on doing things his way, and I had no choice but to go along with it,” said the witness.
The trial of Tukur Mamu has shed light on the complexities of ransom payments in terrorist abductions, with the Nigerian government accusing him of facilitating financial transactions on behalf of Boko Haram terrorists. Federal investigators allege that Mamu received payments amounting to $420,000 and N21 million for his services, which he allegedly concealed at his residence in Kaduna.
The Federal Government has charged Mamu with violating the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2022, with claims that he aided and abetted terrorist operations by facilitating ransom payments and corresponding with terrorist groups.
Mamu, who has denied all allegations, faces a 10-count terrorism charge, which includes money laundering, supporting terrorism, and acting as a go-between for the kidnappers and the victims’ families. Despite the charges, his defense maintains that Mamu’s role was purely as a mediator and not a criminal participant in the kidnappings.
As the trial continues, the full extent of the ransom payments and the links between negotiators and terrorist groups remain under scrutiny. The chilling testimony of the witness serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of terrorism in Nigeria, where families continue to pay the price in both lives and finances.