One of the leaders of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists that attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28 has expressed his interest in marrying 21-year-old Azurfa Lois John, the youngest victim of the attack.
A member of the negotiating team, Tukur Mamu made this known through a statement he released in Kaduna on Friday on the issue in question.
Mamu said he raised the alarm to prevent a situation in which Azurfa’s case would go the way of Leah Sharibu, one of the Chibok School girls abducted in 2014 but still held in the terrorists’ den up to now having been forcefully married by one of their abductors.
In the statement he urged that his disclosure should not be politicized and called on the Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, to do something and save the situation.
The statement, “This is to alert the federal government and especially the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that I can confirm through credible information at my disposal that if urgent action is not taken to immediately secure the release of the youngest victim of the train attack, a 21-year-old Azurfa Lois John, the abductors as they have done in the case of Leah Sharibu are planning to marry her any moment from now.
“One of the top commanders is said to be in love with her. This important information should be treated with the urgency it deserves.
“Even though I know that releasing this information will not only unsettle her immediate family and loved ones but Nigerians as a whole, it is necessary to do so to avoid the repeat of Leah Sharibu’s case.
“I advise CAN in particular not to politicise this issue or reduce it to mere press releases as I have seen in the past but to work closely with relevant authorities to engage the abductors on her case as soon as possible before it is late.
“I pray that in view of the uncertainties which are becoming alarming, the federal government will also act very fast to ensure the release of all the remaining victims.”
