In a heart-wrenching recount of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, a victim of the harrowing ordeal has shared the chilling details of an encounter with one of her captors at a mosque. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons, detailed the traumatic experience that unfolded after a group of terrorists ambushed the train, taking dozens of passengers hostage and leaving many others dead or injured.

The Abuja-Kaduna train attack, which occurred on March 28, 2022, was one of the most tragic incidents of terrorism in Nigeria’s recent history. The attack targeted the passengers traveling from the capital, Abuja, to the northern city of Kaduna. The terrorists, heavily armed and organized, blasted the train’s track, causing a derailment. They then launched an assault, killing several passengers and taking others hostage.

The victim, who was among those taken hostage, described her terrifying experience as she was abducted along with other passengers. The kidnappers led them into a dense forest, where they were held in captivity for several days under deplorable conditions. Food and water were scarce, and the captives were subjected to constant threats and fear for their lives.

But the most surreal part of the ordeal, as shared by the victim, occurred during a brief stop at a mosque in the forest, where the kidnappers forced the hostages to stay. It was there, in the mosque, that she had an unexpected encounter with one of her captors.

“The kidnappers treated us with cruelty, but there was one of them who stood out. He wasn’t as violent as the others. He was more like a negotiator, always making demands and giving orders,” she explained. “One day, he took me aside, and we found ourselves in the mosque where the kidnappers had set up a temporary camp.”

The victim recalled that the kidnapper, who appeared to be in his late thirties, told her that he had a different view of the world. He spoke of the reasons behind the attack, which he claimed were rooted in his frustrations with the government and the state of the country. His speech, she noted, was laced with anger and resentment towards the Nigerian government, blaming it for neglecting the needs of the people, particularly in the northern region.

“He said the government had failed the people and that they were forced to take matters into their own hands,” she recounted. “It was strange. He seemed conflicted, like he was trying to justify the violence. I was terrified, but I tried to remain calm.”

At this point, the kidnapper disclosed that the attack was part of a larger plan by a group that had been carrying out similar attacks for years. He admitted to being a part of a larger network, but he also expressed frustrations with how the other kidnappers operated. According to the victim, the man confessed that while he had no personal animosity towards the captives, he felt compelled to take action against the government, even if it meant hurting innocent people.

“He said it was not personal,” the victim shared. “He said, ‘It’s not about you. It’s about a system that’s broken.’ I didn’t know how to respond. I wanted to tell him to let us go, but I didn’t think it would make a difference.”

What followed was an eerie conversation about the fate of the hostages. The kidnapper mentioned that they were being held to pressure the government into fulfilling certain demands, including the release of prisoners and the payment of ransom. He also warned her that the violence would escalate if the government failed to meet their demands.

The victim, still in shock, tried to find any opportunity to appeal to the man’s conscience. She spoke of her family and children, trying to remind him that they were just innocent people caught in a terrible situation. But the kidnapper’s response was cold and distant. He told her that while he understood her pain, the mission was greater than any individual life.

Days passed in captivity, and the victim remained in constant fear. The terrifying encounter with the kidnapper in the mosque remained etched in her mind as one of the most surreal moments of her captivity. It was not just the terror of being held hostage but the strange, unsettling humanity that she witnessed in one of the men responsible for the violence.

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Here I was, praying for my life in a mosque, while this man, who was holding me captive, was speaking to me about government failure and revenge. It felt like a nightmare,” she said.

Eventually, after several days of negotiations between the kidnappers and the Nigerian government, the hostages were released, though not without paying a hefty ransom. The victim managed to return home, but the psychological scars of the ordeal still linger.

Reflecting on the trauma, the victim expressed a deep sense of fear for the future. “I am grateful to be alive, but I can’t shake off the fear. I wonder how many more people will have to suffer like this before something is done. The government needs to step up and address the root causes of this violence. These attacks are not just about kidnapping for ransom—they are a symptom of a much larger problem.”

The Abuja-Kaduna train attack has left a lasting impact on the nation, raising questions about security, government accountability, and the growing threat posed by armed groups in northern Nigeria. The victim’s account offers a haunting glimpse into the mind of a kidnapper and highlights the complexities of such terrorist attacks, where political grievances often drive acts of violence against innocent civilians.

For the victim, the experience is a constant reminder of the fragility of life in a country plagued by insecurity. As Nigeria continues to grapple with increasing attacks by armed groups, the voices of the survivors of such atrocities serve as a somber warning of the urgent need for change.