El-Rufai, NRC confirm Abuja-Kaduna train attack

The Kaduna State Gåovernment last night confirmed the bandits’ attack on an Abuja-Kaduna train with more than 900 passengers onboard.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai through his Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident in a statement in Kaduna.

He, however, said the train had been secured by soldiers.

He said: “Security agencies have reported to the Kaduna State Government that the military has secured the Kaduna-bound train from Abuja trapped by terrorists.

“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.

“Efforts are ongoing to convey the passengers from the location while 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 to ascertain the list from the passengers’ manifest for efficient tracking.”

Fidet Okhiria, the managing director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, also confirmed the attack.

Okhiria however told the News Agency of Nigeria that ”information concerning the attack was still sketchy, and no concrete information could be given at the moment.

“We have confirmed the attack, but we cannot give you much information right now.

Several people were feared dead as suspected bandits night bombed the Abuja-Kaduna-bound train with 970 passengers on board.

Eyewitnesses told journalists the train derailed after the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by the criminals beneath one of the coaches went off a few minutes into the trip.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, confirmed the incident to journalists.

He, however, promised to brief the journalists on the incident later.

A former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, also confirmed the incident on his Twitter handle – @ShehuSani.

He wrote: “Kaduna-Abuja Train; @Official_NRC please confirm if everything is ok.

“We have been trying to call the numbers of passengers in the Kaduna-Abuja train but it’s not connecting @Official_NRC

“Villagers along Abuja-Kaduna road called to confirm hearing multiple gunshots and attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train by terrorists.

“A friend’s wife who was in the train just called him to confirm that she is safe in the hands of soldiers who came for rescue. But she also confirmed that some of the passengers were not so fortunate.

“In October 2021, I was on board the same night train when it was bombed by terrorists and the tracks were damaged. It took the grace of the Almighty to save our lives. This is a repeat of that tragedy. We pray for the safe return of all the passengers.”

The incident came just two days after bandits attacked the Kaduna International Airport and killed one person.