*The train
An Abuja-bound train has been attacked by bandits. The terrorists reportedly bombed the train tracks resulting in an accident involving the train travelling to Kaduna from Abuja on Thursday. This is the second attack within 24 hours.
Senator Shehu Sani, who was on the train, has said he and hundreds of passengers boarding Abuja-Kaduna Train miraculously escaped after the attack by bandits on Thursday morning.
The Senator made this known on his Facebook page, saying the train ran over explosives said to have been planted by bandits.
He reported that a similar incident had happened about 24 hours before then saying bandits attacked the Kaduna-Abuja train after planting explosives that damaged the rail track and shattered the windshield of the train engine.
According to Sani, “they also opened fire, targeting the driver and the tank”. He said the attack happened between Dutse and Rijana stations saying the driver struggled to move towards Kaduna Rigasa Station.
He wrote: “Yesternight, bandits attacked the Kaduna-Abuja train.They planted an explosive that damaged the rail track and shattered the windshield of the train engine. They also opened fire, targeting the driver and the tank. It happened between Dutse and Rijana stations.The driver struggled to move towards Kaduna Rigasa Station”.
Shehu Sani, who served in the eighth National Assembly, added that “This early morning, I was on board when our train ran over another explosive damaged railing. The train nearly skidded off its track, then we miraculously escaped. All Kaduna/Abuja train operations need to be suspended for today until this issue is addressed.”
As if to confirm the former senator’s report, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) suspended Abuja/Kaduna train service along the route indefinitely.
The managing director of the NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, who confirmed the attack, said the explosives damaged the rail tracks somewhere between Dutse and Rijana.
According to him, “there was an explosive on our rail track somewhere around Rijana and Dutse last night, and this damaged the tracks.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure that the train services along the Kaduna-Abuja route are fully restored,”
The NRC had in a statement on its website, said the services were suspended for the safety of passengers and crew members.
The statement added that efforts were being put in place to ensure absolute safety along the route and further information concerning the suspension will be conveyed to the public shortly.