By TINA TIMOTHY

The Chairman, Movement for Unity and Progress (MUP), Col Abubakar D. Umar (rtd), has appealed to the Federal Government ‘to do more to secure the immediate release’ of victims abducted in the March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

Col. Umar in a statement on Thursday, April 28, 2022 also appealed ‘to the international community, particularly the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)’ to assist with negotiations regarding the release of the victims, whose pictures trending on social media he described as showing exhausted and frightened women and children under the most harrowing conditions.’

The statement reads: “Pictures of the hostages abducted in the 28 March Abuja- Kaduna train attack are trending in the social media.

“The pictures, to say the least, are most disturbing, particularly as they show exhausted and frightened women and children under the most harrowing conditions.

“I appeal to the Federal government to do more to secure the immediate release of these innocent victims.

“I also appeal to the international community, particularly the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to assist in the negotiations which will be needed to effect that release.”

Umar also prayed for God to soften the hearts of the abductors.

“May God touch the hearts of the kidnappers to show mercy on these innocent and vulnerable victims. Amen,” he concluded.