Terrorists are holding roughly 100 people who were abducted from the very train that derailed after being attacked in Katari, Kaduna.

When gunmen stormed the train and seized the passengers, eight people were killed and 26 others were injured.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation reported that it was unable to contact 163 passengers and seven crew members who boarded the train.

According to reports, the attackers’ demand for the release of 16 of their leaders and sponsors in return for the abducted victims was rejected by the government.

Security sources claimed authorities were still negotiating with the terrorists while looking into alternative ways for rescuing the abductees, who were shown in a viral video sitting under a tree at an undisclosed location thought to be the bandits’ camp.

On Friday, it was learned that the government was likewise unwilling to pay a ransom for the abductees.

A source said, “The Federal Government is looking into their demands because of the hostages, but the government is being cautious; it cannot meet the demands of the terrorists. The last time the government released some commanders, they went back and the insurgency became worse.

“So, nobody is considering releasing the commanders. The terrorists were also given money previously and the situation did not improve.”

Following the failure of the negotiations, it was learned that the terrorists may begin requesting ransom from the captives’ relatives.

Some family members had complained about their loved ones being kidnapped and reported that the terrorists had not contacted them since the victims had been held captive for more than two weeks.

In the meantime, Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police, has ordered rigorous security patrols of all public areas and important national assets in the run-up to Easter.

He urged all state police commissioners and their supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to ensure that personnel and operational assets are deployed appropriately in areas of security importance in their respective areas of responsibility.

The acting force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed in a statement that the IG also instructed the supervising officers to ensure that “confidence-boosting, proactive and high visibility patrols” were carried out on the highways, motor parks, train stations, airports, worship centers, recreation centers, banks, and other financial institutions while taking adequate measures to provide a peaceful, crime-free, and enabling environment for religious, cultural and other socio-economic activities to thrive.

“In addition, the commissioners of police and their supervising AIGs have been directed to ensure proper supervision of the men assigned for these assignments. They must be professional and courteous to law-abiding citizens, but firm and ruthless with criminal elements, who might want to take advantage of the festive period to perpetuate their unholy acts,” the statement added.