Man Who Met Bandit Who Abducted Him In Kaduna Mosque Says He Has Forgiven Him But Won’t Forgive Nigerian Government
Three years after enduring 197 days in captivity following the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack, Bala Mohammed says he has found it in his heart to forgive his abductors, but not the Nigerian government.
In an interview with Trust TV, Mohammed recalled a surreal moment during Friday prayers at a mosque in the Bairua area of Kaduna, where he came face-to-face with one of the men who had once held him hostage.
“I saw someone I recognized—Abubakar, who used to guard us at Shema filling station in Bakinruwa,” he said. “After the prayer, he laughed when he saw me. We shook hands, but then he started trembling.”
That encounter led to an hour-long conversation between Mohammed and Abubakar, now a reformed bandit who claims to have embraced the Kaduna State government’s rehabilitation initiative for repentant criminals.
“We found a place to talk. I even asked him about others, like Baba Adamu. He said Baba Adamu had been killed by the Nigerian Army. That news brought me some relief,” Mohammed shared.
Despite the painful memories, Mohammed said he left the meeting on peaceful terms, even offering Abubakar a small amount of money after noticing his poor appearance. “He’s now surviving as an okada rider. His face, his shoes—everything about him showed hardship,” he said.
While Mohammed’s personal faith has led him to forgive his captors, he remains deeply embittered toward the Nigerian government, which he accuses of total neglect.
“I won’t forgive the government,” he said firmly. “My wife was four months pregnant when I was kidnapped. Strangers had to raise money for her. The government never even called her, let alone offered help.”
He recounted how his wife had to undergo a caesarean section during his absence, without any form of support from authorities. Even after the hostages were released, Mohammed said many, including himself, sought psychiatric care without assistance.
“To this day, I still suffer from PTSD. I saw three people killed right next to me. I survived only by Allah’s mercy. That’s why I can forgive the bandits. But the government? Never.”
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