By ADAKU WALTER
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended the Abuja Kaduna passenger train services over the terrorist attack in which several persons were killed and over 16 other injured on Monday.
In a message posted on its booking website and social media handles yesterday, the NRC said it was suspending the service for the safety of travellers.
It, however, said it was working to restore the service and would inform the public when the train will start running again.
The Trumpet recalled that terrorists bombed and demobilised the AbujaKaduna train conveying no fewer than 970 passengers.
It was learnt that the terrorists planted explosives on the rail tracks and bombed the train just before Rijana, a community along the rail line in Kaduna notorious for kidnapping and other security breaches.
A list of the victims obtained by The Trumpet, identified the injured as: Haruna Muhammed; Mohammed Modibo; Ibrahim Wakili; Yakubu Nuhu; Abdulahi Yahay; Ismail Saidu; Abdumalik Rasheedat; Umar Mohammed.
Others are, Hadiza Umar; Musa Ishawan; Aisha Yusuf; Mohammed Ameen; Abubakar Hauwau; Aliyu Sulaiman; Olaosebikan Bilikisu and Leola Abdulbasit.
Following the incident, Managing Director of NRC, Fidet Okhiria, has departed Lagos for Abuja to monitor development at the scene of the attack.
Speaking prior to his departure at the Lagos Airport, Okhiria explained that information from the scene of the attack at the moment indicates that seven people died from the attack.
Read Also: Tin-Can waterfront communities’ attacks on vessels raise security concern
He said: “What we have been told for now is that seven people died. I am, however, at the airport in Lagos right now. I have to get there to monitor developments myself.”
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government, yesterday, said the evacuation of passengers on the trapped Kaduna-bound train from Abuja, has been concluded with the help of security forces, officials of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Nigerian Red Cross.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement issued in Kaduna, explained that the passengers who sustained injuries and other victims have been moved to different hospitals.
He said passengers were evacuated from different difficult terrains in forests and rocky locations in Audujongom off the Kaduna-Abuja Road.
“As stated yesterday, the Kaduna State Government is still liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to ascertain the list from the passengers manifest for efficient tracking.”
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who commended those who participated in the evacuation, appealed to the hospitals to attend to the victims diligently.
“He also directed the Ministry of Health to contact the hospitals, as the state government will bear the cost of their treatment. As of the time of filing this report, search-and-rescue operations are ongoing,” he added.
