Comrade M. Muhammad, one of the victims of the 2022 Kaduna-bound train has narrated how he encountered one of his abductors at a mosque in Kaduna State.

According to him, the encounter happened a few days ago when he stopped at a Shema Mosque near Bakin Ruwa Junction in Rigasa community, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna.

Identifying the kidnapper as Abubakar, the comrade said he was shocked seeing him inside the mosque.

In a social media post, he wrote: “Last night, after praying the Isha’i prayer at Shema Mosque near Bakin Ruwa junction in Kaduna, by the will of God, just as the imam ended the prayer, I ran into one of the men who kidnapped us aboard the AK-9 train that was attacked on March 28, 2022, during the Abuja–Kaduna journey.

“His name is Abubakar. He told me he has repented and left terrorism behind. He now works as a motorcycle (okada) rider.

“After a lengthy conversation with him, I learned that some of the kidnappers have been killed, while others have continued with their acts of terror.

“In the end, I told him I forgave them, and I gave him some charity because of the state I saw him in. Oh Lord of all the worlds, guide us all and guide them too,” he said.

Confirming the social media post, the Comrade, in a chat with journalists narrated what transpired during their hour-long discussion.

He said, “Yes it’s true that I saw the guy Abubakar at the Mosque as posted on my social media. Actually he was shocked to see me but I smiled at him which made him comfortable.”

“We stepped outside and he told me that he has now repented now riding Okada. He also told me that one of their notorious commanders, Baba Adamu, had been killed by soldiers and I was happy to hear that news.”

“Others may be surprised that I forgave him and left him to go because even before seeing him on that day, I had already forgiven them,” he said.

Muhammad, however, said he would not forgive the government for what happened to him on the night of March 28,2022 “because the train was attacked due to the government negligence”.

He said based on intelligence, the government was notified of possible attack on the train but did nothing to prevent it.

The victim also accused government of abandonment after they regained freedom, saying they bore the cost of the therapy sessions that they underwent during the recovery stage.

“We spent 196 days which was 7 months in captivity and after our release, the government did nothing to support us apart from the drip and anti malaria treatment given to us.

“Many of us, me inclusive, battled with trauma and had to be going to Neo Psychiatric hospital for months seeking treatment without government support.”

On March 28, 2022, an Abuja–Kaduna train was attacked in Katari, Kaduna, about 15 minutes to the arrival at its destination.

Hundreds of passengers were kidnapped while others were killed and injured by the bandits who bombed the train.

The train had left Abuja’s Idu station at 6pm and was scheduled to arrive at the Rigasa train station in Kaduna by 8pm.