FG given 24 hours ultimatum to rescue kidnapped Christian girl, set to be married off to terrorist

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has given a 24-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to, with immediate effect, secure the freedom of Azurfa Lois John, a 21-year-old Christian, who was one of the victims of the Kaduna-Abuja train attack.

MOUTHPIECE NGR had earlier reported that a top commander of bandits who kidnapped passengers from the Kaduna-Abuja train on the 28th of March, 2022, is set to marry one of the victims, Azurfa Lois John, 21.

The Publisher of Desert Herald, who is also in charge of negotiation for the victims held hostage, Tukur Mamu, revealed this via a statement he made public on Friday.

He has alerted the federal government and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)) to take immediate action to enable the freedom of the youngest victim of the train attack as was done in the case of Leah Sharibu.

The National Coordinator of the association, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, via a statement, on Saturday, said the failure to secure the freedom of the victim, who has been in captivity for about five months, will invite a severe legal tussle.

It said the group would not hesitate to drag the Federal Government to court and report the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

The group warned that the case of Lois must not become another Leah Sharibu who has been in captivity since February 19, 2018 when Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters attacked the Government Girls Science and Technical School in Dapchi, Yobe State.

HURIWA’s warning followed a report by Tukur Mamu, media consultant to controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, that a top bandit commander is planning to marry Lois, who is said to be “the youngest victim of the March 28 train attack”.

Mamu, who is negotiating between the terrorists and families of victims, also said the terrorists threatened to do to Lois the same thing they had done to Leah if her parents and the government fail to pay a N100 million ransom to secure her release on time.

According to the rights group, “The report by Tukur Mamu, so-called media consultant to controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, is unsavoury and should not be taken lightly.

“HURIWA gives the Federal Government of Nigeria 24 hours to secure the release of 21-year-old Azurfa Lois John, said to be the only young Christian victim and lady among the hostages. The government must take both non-kinetic and kinetic actions (as attested to by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu) to secure her prompt release.

“The threat by ISWAP fighters to marry off Lois to one of their top commanders is a testament to longstanding belief that terrorists are advancing the agenda of Islam and are untouchable but tolerated by the present Fulani government hence their multiplication and continued despoilation.

“The regime of President Muhammadu Buhari failed Leah Sharibu. It must not fail Azurfa Lois John. Nigerians won’t take another slap on the Christian community. The Christian Association of Nigeria and persons of noble conscience must exert pressure on Federal Government to secure the release of Lois as soon as possible.

“HURIWA is by this statement putting the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom on notice of the religious violations going on under President Buhari and the allegedly conspiratorial silence of the northern elite”.