Several passengers on board an Abuja-Kaduna train, were feared killed after bandits attacked the train with bombs and IED explosives on Monday night.
The train which had about 970 passengers on board, was said to have departed Abuja at 6pm and was expected to arrive at Kaduna at 8pm, but was attacked by the bandits at about 7.45pm between Katari and Rijana train stations, a few kilometers from Kaduna.
The train reportedly derailed after the explosive device planted by the bandits went off, giving the terrorists the leeway to shoot sporadically at the train, leading to the death and injuries to some passengers, while several others were allegedly kidnapped.
However, in a statement issued by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the government said the situation had been brought under control.
Parts of Aruwan’s statement said:
“The Kaduna State Government received multiple reports of an attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train service at around Kateri-Rijana general areas.
“Relevant action agencies were urgently contacted, and robust deployments of personnel were swiftly made to the area to secure the passengers on board.
“Security agencies have reported to the Kaduna State Government that the military has secured the Kaduna bound train from Abuja trapped by terrorists.
“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.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i who has been in constant touch with the security forces, commended them for their prompt response, and thanked them for successfully securing the train and passengers on board.”
In October 2021, the NRC had announced the immediate suspension of rail service operations on the same Abuja-Kaduna route following the detonation of explosives on the train track by bandits.
The attacks which was sustained for two night, left some passengers killed and others injured after the attackers fired live rounds into driver and VIP compartments of the train.