Abuja-Kaduna train abductee recognize his kidnapper during prayers in mosque

A victim of the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack recently shared a surprising and emotional story about meeting one of his former kidnappers at a mosque in Kaduna State. The man, Comrade M. B. Muhammad, said he came across the kidnapper, who introduced himself as Abubakar, just a few days ago while he was praying at Shema Mosque near Bakin Ruwa Junction in the Rigasa area of Kaduna.

In a post he made on social media, which has been widely shared, Comrade Muhammad expressed his shock at seeing Abubakar inside the mosque. He explained that it happened after the evening (Isha’i) prayer. “Just as the imam finished leading the prayer, I saw a man I recognized immediately. It was one of the people who kidnapped us during the attack on the AK-9 train on March 28, 2022, during the Abuja–Kaduna journey,” he wrote.

Muhammad said Abubakar approached him and said he had changed his ways. He claimed to have left terrorism behind and was now earning a living by riding a motorcycle (popularly known as okada) to carry passengers. “He said his name is Abubakar and that he has repented. He no longer takes part in any terrorist activities and now works as an okada rider,” the post read.

As they spoke further, Muhammad found out that some of the kidnappers involved in the attack had been killed, while others were still active in criminal activities. Despite the pain and trauma of his kidnapping experience, Muhammad said he decided to forgive Abubakar. He even gave him some money, feeling sympathy for the difficult life he was now living.

“In the end, I told him I had forgiven them. I gave him some charity because of the poor condition I saw him in,” Muhammad said. “Oh Lord of all the worlds, guide us all and guide them too.”

Later, while speaking to a reporter from FCNN at his office in Kaduna city, Comrade Muhammad confirmed that he had truly written the post. His experience shows how life can take different directions for both victims and those who once caused them harm. It also highlights the emotional and personal struggles people go through after such a traumatic event.