Rose Audu
The Nigerian Railway Corporation in a post on its official Twitter handle @Official_NRC on Tuesday morning announced the suspension of train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route indefinitely.
The NRC in a brief statement noted that the suspension was due to unforeseen circumstances.
It said “Dear passengers, due to unforeseen circumstances, Train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route has been temporarily suspended. Further communication would be given in due course.”
This is a sequel to an attack on passenger train conveying over 970 passengers by suspected terrorists between Rijana and Katari in Kaduna State, Monday.
TOS NEWS gathered that the bandits after the attack tried to force themselves into the cabins of the train, but they did not succeed.
A passenger onboard the train, Anas Iro Dan Musa, sent messages out to his followers on Facebook, saying all passengers were lying on the floor as the terrorists were shooting at the train sporadically.
Dan-Musa wrote, “ please, this is an emergency. We are inside the train at the moment. Kidnappers planted explosives on the train tracks and the train engines have been ruined, we are helpless.
“Gunshots still being fired around us. We are just under the seats praying to God while waiting for help”.
He later added: “Since 8 pm we have been here between Katari and Rijiana. I am a living witness. Please share the news we need help.
“There is bad network where we are at the moment. It is just luck am able to type this, they are actually forcing themselves in.”
NRC Boss Confirms Attack
Confirming the attack, the Managing Director of Nigerian Railways Corporation, NRC, Fidet Okhiria, said: “We cannot give you much information now. Most of the passengers have gone into hiding and they cannot be giving information, but there are reports of gunshots as the train stopped.”
Previous Attack
In October 2021, NRC suspended its operations after bandits detonated explosives on the tracks serving the Abuja-Kaduna line.
The attack which took place between Wednesday night and Thursday (20th and 21st) morning, left passengers traumatised, with reports that the attackers also fired live rounds into driver compartments.
Following the attack, NRC, in a statement via its website on Thursday afternoon, said operations have been suspended till further notice.
