After 125 days in captivity, five more hostages, who were abducted on March 28 aboard an Abuja-Kaduna train, were, yesterday, freed by terrorists, making it the fourth batch of victims that have secured their freedom.

Security agencies and the Federal Government were yet to confirm the development, but a member of the negotiating team, Tukur Mamu, publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald and media consultant to controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, told newsmen that the victims were released on Tuesday.

He gave the names of the five released hostages as Prof. Mustapha Umar Imam, who is medical consultant at Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto; Akibu Lawal, Abubakar Ahmed Rufai; Mukthar Shu’aibu and Sidi Aminu Sharif.

Recall that last week, three victims of the train attack were released shortly after the terrorists released a viral video of some of the captives being flogged. They also threatened to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai.

The terrorists had earlier released 11 victims in the first batch, seven victims in the second batch, three in the third and five victims in the fourth batch respectively. So far, 35 victims are still in captivity.

Gunmen had, on March 28, blown up the rail track, killing 14 and abducting scores of passengers, a situation that called for serious concern about the safety of the nation’s train service.

Worried about the situation, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) temporarily suspended activities, with President Muhammadu Buhari directing security agencies to rescue the victims.