Many feared kidnapped as terrorists attack Kaduna-bound train – Nexus News
Suspected gunmen yesterday night detonated explosives on the Abuja-Kaduna train and opened fire on about 970 passengers on board.
The Kaduna-bound train came off track after explosives believed to be set on the rail track went off close to the Rigasa area of the state. The 6:00p.m. train, which moved from Idu Train Station at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, hit the explosive device about 30 minutes to Rigasa train station in Kaduna at a point between Katari and Rijana community.
Details were doubtful as at the time of filing this report but it gathered that security agents were deployed to the area to save the passengers.
“There is no network in the area so we cannot get any information until the team we have dispatched returns,” a top security source in Kaduna said.
“What we know is that suspected IEDs were planted on the track and the train has derailed. We don’t know for sure if there is any injury or death,” he said.
Mr. Fidet Okhiria, The Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), affirmed the attack but did not give a detailed explanation, as he was yet to get a clear picture of the whole incident.
“There was an incident but we are managing it. I don’t have the details now,” he said on the phone.
A passenger through a phone call confirmed the incident stating the attackers surrounded the train, shooting sporadically.
“All the passengers are currently lying on the floor of the train. The bandits are shooting sporadically. We are in serious danger,” the panic-stricken passenger said.
According to an official source, there were at least 970 passengers traveling in the train.
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Many passengers were wounded while several others were revealed to have been abducted by the assailants, though the police authorities are yet to confirm the attack.
Another passenger on the train informed Newsmen that upon the stoppage of the train, the gunmen began to fire gunshots sporadically. He said that the terrorists later forced their way into the train and kidnapped an unknown number of people, with some others feared dead.
Meanwhile, troops have been deployed to the scene of the attack to save the remaining passengers.
The passenger, Anas Danmusa, took to his Facebook page to cry for help. “Please this is an emergency. We are inside the train at the moment. Kidnappers planted explosives and the train engines have been ruined. We are helpless. Abuja to Kaduna train. Gunshots are still being fired right around us. We are just under the seats praying to God while waiting for help. Since 8:00pm. we have been here.”
According to Danmusa, nobody could come to their rescue about one hour into the incident as the terrorists tried to force their way into the train.
“There is a bad network where we are at the moment. It is just luck that I am able to type this. They are actually trying to force themselves inside the train. No help yet after over one hour.”
About 20 minutes later, Danmusa confirmed that army personnel had arrived at the scene of the attack.
“Alhamdulillah! The army are with us. We are safe. They have secured the train!”
