By Rex Enabulele, and Benjamin Omoike
Nigeria, Nigerians have expressed outrage over the deadly terrorists ’ attack on an Abuja-Kaduna train, leading to the kidnapping and death of dozens of passengers on board.
The tragic incident led to the death of an overseas bound medical doctor, Chinelo Megafu, SecretaryGeneral of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Barrister Musa-Lawal Ozigi and others. A former Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, was also said to have been shot by the blood-thirsty terrorists during the attack.
Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the attack on behalf of the Kaduna State Government, explained that passengers who sustained injuries and other casualties had been evacuated to hospitals.
A former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, also said that the terrorists also abducted a “white man” and killed several others, adding that the attackers targeted the Business Class coach of the train. Dr. Megafu reportedly died from gunshot injuries sustained during the terror attack.
She had during the attack announced on her Twitter that she was shot and asked for prayers. “I’m in the train. I have been shot. Please pray for me’’, She had tweeted. Senate expresses anger The Senate on Tuesday debated the terrorists attack on the Kaduna-bound train and took a motion on the incident titled, “The Continuing Attacks on Communities and Public Facilities in Kaduna State,”.
It was sponsored by Senator Sani, Uba (Kaduna Central) The Senate called on the Nigerian Army and Air Force to, as a matter of urgency, bomb the terrorist enclaves with a view to restoring peace and stability in the country. The lawmaker noted that terrorists have in recent times stepped up attacks on some communities and public facilities in Kaduna State.
The Senator representing Kaduna North Senatorial District, Abdu Kwari, who seconded the motion told his colleagues that the terrorists actually targeted the rich in the business class of the train. He also said that one of the victims was a nursing mother who was accompanying her aged mother to get medical treatment. Kwari said, “A woman with a child was calling for mercy when she was held by the terrorists.
Her aged, sick mother, going for medical treatment was by her side. “Instead of showing her mercy, the terrorists got her head shattered in the presence of the sick mother.
“The security personnel in the train saved many very important personalities in the executive coaches by aiding them to crawl to the economy coaches to reduce the number of casualties.
“The security operatives also helped passengers who could not walk the two-hour distance from the scene to the main road, by conveying them on their backs.” In his motion, Uba Sani said four local government areas were under constant attacks in Kaduna State.
According to the Senator, “The latest attacks by these murderous elements took place in some communities in Giwa Local Government, namely Angwan Sarki Yahya, Tashar Shari, BareBari, Tsaunin Natal, Dillalai, Durumi and Jatin Kanwa, all in Yakawada Ward. “Other places affected include Kaya community, Mai kyauro and Fatikam where they they have so far killed 50 persons and kidnapped about 100 people. They also made strategic roads in Giwa Local Government no go areas.
“Not done with their devilish acts, they made an attempt to penetrate the Kaduna International Airport. “Although the attack was foiled by vigilant security operatives, one person lost his life. When people were trying to come to grips with a weeklong wanton destruction of lives and property, the terrorists struck again.”
He bemoaned the attacks by the terrorists on the Kaduna bound train carrying over 970 passengers around Kateri – Rijana axis just a few kilometers to the Rigasa train station in Igabi local government area of the State. “The train derailed after the first wave of attacks. Grenades and RPGs were used.
They rained bullets on all the coaches. Some passengers were killed, while many sustained bullet wounds. “There are reports that some of the passengers were abducted. The terrified passengers only breathed a sigh of relief when security agencies arrived and secured the train and the area.
It’s been a reign of undiluted terror”, Senator Sani said. He noted that, the latest attacks were aimed at instilling fear in the peopleand destroying the economies of our local communities.
Contributing, Senator Gabriel Suswam lamented that Kaduna had become the new theatre of insecurity. He said the lingering activities of terrorists in the state makes it imperative for the appropriate authorities to take decisive action, attributing the inability by the military to curtail growing incidents of terrorism to “a clear failure of leadership.” On his part, Senator Danjuma La’ah, said if the security situation in the country is not nipped in the bud, political leaders would become the main targets of terrorists.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to declare full scale war against terrorists to fully secure all national territories from them in whatever guise. The chamber urged the relevant agencies of government to step up information gathering mechanism to forestall the incessant attacks.
It also called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies to assist the affected communities with relief materials.
The Senate, thereafter, held a minute silence to mourn the deceased in the attacks. Up your game, charge security agencies charged Meanwhile, Senators from the North under the auspice of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) have expressed shock and outrage over the Monday night attack on the Kaduna-bound train, asking the military to re-strategise on handling the security situation in the North West.
The forum’s chairman and a former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, said the attack was a direct dare at the Nigerian state and its security forces. Wamakko, who is also chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence said the loss of lives of innocent and defenceless Nigerians must be halted immediately.
The senators described the attack as “heinous and unforgivable” as they charged the security agencies to mobilise and pursue the criminals. “It is devastating hearing about the outrageous attack which was brought to the fore, yet again, the nature of the problem we are dealing with.
“It is sad that the precious lives of defenceless citizens get perished in the hands of callous and merciless terrorists,” Wamakko said in the statement released in Abuja on Tuesday. “This is yet another wakeup call not only for our security forces, but indeed all Nigerians to wake up and be more decisive in ending this menace. “We condole with His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, the Kaduna State Government as well as families and associates of those who lost their lives in the attack. But as a tribute to those lost in the attack we must ensure that their lives do not go in vain by bringing the perpetrators to book.’’
Also reacting to the deadly attack, a former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, yesterday described as shocking, the terror attacks on Kaduna Airport and on Abuja – Kaduna bound train, saying that the worsening level of insecurity across the country is ‘’depressing and disheartening.’’
Obi, a presidential aspirant for the 2023 elections, in a statement by his Media Office, said the terror attacks in Kaduna and different parts of the country, have become very worrisome and should serve as wake up call to the government to beef up the country’s security architecture and be more proactive in handling security issues. He said the challenges of insecurity will be too much of a burden on Nigerians already battling with hardship and poverty. On his part, former Vice President and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, said the attack that reportedly left many injured and some kidnapped is condemnable.
“The government’s commitment to the protection of the life and property of the people must remain sacrosanct. “My thoughts and prayers are with all who are affected. As one people, there is no enemy, foreign or domestic, that we cannot defeat,” he stated. In their emotional reaction to the incident, many Nigerians through their social media platforms, queried the inability of Governor Nasiru El-rufai, to tackle insecurity in the state, thereby making roads, airports and train mean of transportation unsafe for citizens.
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies to ensure the release of all kidnapped passengers. He also ordered the immediate arrest of the terrorists that carried out the dastardly act to face justice and implementation of integrated security surveillance for AbujaKaduna and Lagos-Ibadan rail lines.
The President gave the directives at the State House, Abuja, Tuesday after he was briefed by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor and service chiefs as well as the Inspector General of Police, among other top military officers, on the attack by terrorists on the Kaduna bound passenger train.
He charged the military and law enforcement chiefs to ensure the immediate release of all passengers kidnapped and hunt down the terrorists to face justice for their heinous acts. President Buhari reiterated his earlier directive that the military should deal ruthlessly with terrorists and prevent them from crippling the country.
He asked them to be more decisive and not spare anyone unlawfully wielding the AK 47 weapon. “No one should be allowed to hold the country to ransom,” the President said. President Buhari strongly condemned the bombing of the passenger train, describing it as a “matter of grave concern.”
According to him, “Like most Nigerians, I am deeply pained by its occurrence, the second of its type, which has resulted in the death of a yet to be determined number of passengers and others who suffered injuries. “The attack on the train, a safe means of transport to many, is callous; and our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers for the injured.”
The President commended the security agencies for their prompt response and emergency personnel who were responsible for the evacuation and treatment of the injured persons. Buhari also directed the immediate conclusion of all the processes for the implementation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution for the Abuja to Kaduna railway line adding that this be extended to cover the Lagos-Ibadan railway line. He further directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) management to speedily repair the damaged lines and resume normal service without delay.
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Briefing newsmen after the closed door meeting with the President, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Irabor said: “we have come to brief the President regarding the unfortunate incident of yesterday, where some criminals, bandits had gone to lay improvised explosive devices on the rail tracks and a passenger train was demobilised and seven Nigerians were killed, 29 others wounded and some were kidnapped and we are yet to establish the exact number, The Trumpet gathered.
“So we went to the scene this morning, inspected the entire area and gave out instructions on what is to be done and we have come to brief the President on this development.” The CDS said security agencies will build on the lessons they have learnt from the latest incident while assuring Nigerians that the military and other security agencies will not rest on their oars until everywhere is secured.
According to him: “The challenge of insecurity is a constant one and so the defence and security agencies need to be on their toes 24/7. “This is unfortunate and we believe that the lessons out of this are what we need to build upon going forward.
“I can perhaps use this opportunity and reassure the nation that based on the President’s directive, we will take every necessary action, not just to apprehend those behind this dastardly act are not just apprehended but for them to also face justice. “Going forward, certainly there will be greater security for the nation and I will like to urge everybody to go about their normal duties”.
Apart from the CDS, others who took turns to brief the President were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Faruk Yahaya; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao; Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, as well as the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Samuel Adebayo and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS),Yusuf Magaji Bichi. Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were absent at the 13th Colloquium held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, in commemoration of the 70th birthday celebration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who cancelled the event due to news of the tragic attack on the train.
According to Tinubu, due to his busy schedule in the last few days, he hadn’t been properly briefed about the unfortunate incident until he got to the venue of the event. As such, he felt the need, after consultation with his close associates, to call of the programme, for guests to go back home and pray for the departed souls; also to pray for those who had suffered various degrees of injuries, and above all, to pray for security of the nation. Tinubu stated that information reaching him said about 60 people died in the dastardly act. “In solemn recognition of the tragic loss of precious souls yesterday evening, I took the decision to cancel this year’s Colloquium held in my honour. “Today is a day for sober reflection and a renewal of our collective determination to end the terrorist menace.
Information reaching me say about 60 people have died as a result of this unfortunate incident. I will call upon the Imams and the clergymen here to come and pray for the repose of the departed souls and for those who are injured and are currently receiving treatment. “I would also like to implore us all to go back home and pray for the security of this nation.
I have consulted with my associates and I do not believe we should be here celebrating with all of this going on in our country now. I will also ask that we observe a minute silence for the departed souls, Tinubu said. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari and VP Yemi Osinbajo did not attend the 70th birthday celebration of the APC national leader.
It has been an annual thing for Tinubu to hold a celebration together with a Colloquium, which the President and his Vice President always attend. It took a new turn this year as the President was in Abuja presiding over a meeting, while VP Osinbajo was in Kaduna to check up on victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train terrorist attack, which happened in Monday night. While the celebration was going on with guests already seated, Tinubu mounted the podium to cancel the 13th colloquium to celebrate his birthday.
According to him, it was to honour the victims of the train attack, which led to the death of unconfirmed number of passengers, according to reports. Present at the event were Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat; Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; former Ogun State Governor, Segun Osoba; Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Minister of State for Health, Olorunbe Mamora, among others.
The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, confirmed the death of eight passengers while 41 persons are currently receiving treatment. Amaechi, speaking to the press shortly after inspecting the scene of the bomb blast in Rijana, put the total number of passengers at 398. According to him, “We don’t have all the figures of missing persons, kidnapped and those injured at the moment. The numbers we have is that there are eight death and 41 passengers at the hospital. “So, we have have to wait on the security and the kaduna state government and the nigerian railway corporation are all trying to make contact with those on the manifest.” He added that there were few persons who are not on the manifest like the staff of the NRC, staff of the cleaning contractor, saying the ministry may not be able to completely account for them.
“We have not being able to install the security sensors because the procurement process is a bit difficult. It is typical of nigerians.
“To shorten the process and save lives like this but because the process is tedious, the approval is also tedious, we have not been able to get that approval that will lead to purchase those items.” Amaechi, speaking further, said: “If those items were here, drones alone will tell you that there are people around the rail tracks because there are drones, there are equipment pick sensors if you touch the track but unfortunately the process has not been able to get us that approval for us to import those items.
“So for me, I am devastated and I honestly don’t know what to tell Nigerians anymore.” He maintain that the cameras in the train cannot pick what is happening outside “What you need is a camera that shows 100 metres away from the train, there are unknown things carrying gun.
“Then, we can take precaution but we have done all we need to do in the ministry of transport and we have forward to them for approval but we have not gotten approval.
“The patrol vehicles are available but they cannot reach everywhere. For the areas the patrol can patrol, it will forestall. “We are thinking about the possibility of employing natives until we get those equipment. We also need helicopters, beyond the drones, we need helicopters.”
