By Iliya Kure
Nigerian authorities have confirmed the Monday night attack on Kaduna bound passenger train from Abuja.
Sources say there were about 970 passengers on board.
A statement by Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, says security agencies have reported the matter to the State Government, adding that the military has secured the trapped passengers.
It added, “Relevant action agencies were urgently contacted, and robust deployments of personnel were swiftly made to the area to secure the passengers on board.
“Efforts are ongoing to convey the passengers from the location and others that sustained injuries have been rushed to hospitals for urgent medical attention.
“The Government of Kaduna State will be liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to ascertain the list from the passengers’ manifest for efficient tracking.
“This is to acquire an accurate inventory of all passengers and their actual status.
“Security forces continue to comb the general area in additional rescue efforts.”
Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Cooperation, Fidet Okhiria, has also confirmed the incident.
He told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that “We have confirmed the attack, but we cannot give you much information right now.
“From the reports we have gotten, most of the passengers have gone into hiding and the officials on board are yet to give us a report of the situation.
”There are reports of gunshots and the train derailed due to the attack,” Okhiria said.
Earlier report indicate that terrorists had blown off the rail track of the Abuja-Kaduna train between Katari-Rijana axis of Kaduna State, damaging to the engines and causing the train to a halt.
A passenger aboard the Kaduna bound train, Anas Iro-Danmusa, who took to Facebook around 9:07 p.m, solicited for prayers for those in the train.
“Please this is an emergency. We are inside train at the moment. Kidnappers planted explosives and the train engines have been ruined. We are helpless. Abuja to Kaduna train. Gunshots still being fired right around us. We are just under the seats praying to God while waiting for help. Since 8pm we have been here. Btw Katari to Rijana. I am a living witness.”
He said, bandits had surrounded the train and made efforts to enter the coaches but the doors were not opening.
“Please, spread the news. We need help. Gunshots,” he posted.
Images and videos posted on social media by some of the passengers show great damages inflicted on some of the wagons.
Unconfirmed reports say that a number of passengers were abducted and others sustained various degree of injury.
The attack is coming 2 days after terrorists attacked Kaduna International Airport where an aircraft was prevented from taking-off.
Last October, bandits had destroyed a portion of the Abuja-Kaduna rail track with explosives which disrupted the journey. It halted the train services for about 3 days.
Because of high number of people being kidnapped on the road, train has been considered the safest means of transportation between Abuja-Kaduna, but the recent attacks may be sending a different signal to commuters between the two cities.
[…] Monday, a passenger train belonging to Nigerian Railway Corporation came under terrorists attack in another part of Kaduna state, where unspecified number of people were killed, some injured, […]