News
NRC shy of confirming terrorists attack on Kaduna train suspends operation
The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended train services on the Abuja-Kaduna route.
This followed allegation of attack on the rail tracks by terrorists.
Officials of the corporation confirmed Thursday that services on the route had been halted but stated that investigations were ongoing to determine if the facility was actually bombed as had been alleged.
A former Senator from Kaduna State, Shehu Sani, posted on his verified Twitter handle that bandits had attacked a train on the route on Wednesday.
Sani said: “Yesterday (Wednesday) terrorists attacked the Kaduna-Abuja railway with an explosive and opened fire on the train, targeting the engine driver and the tank.
“This (Thursday) morning, I was onboard when our train ran over another explosive damaged rail.”
The Abuja/Kaduna Train Service Station Manager, Paschal Nnoli, confirmed there was an attack on the train, but could not tell if it was with an explosive.
READ: Abuja-Kaduna train breaks down, passengers trapped in the bush
“Yes, there was an attack, but right now I cannot confirm if it was an explosive or bomb attack as people are saying,” Nnoli said.
“Investigations are ongoing and I’ll give you updates as they come in. Our engineers have been mobilised to the area and right now we have suspended services,” he added.
In a statement on its website, subsequently, on Thursday, NRC said services had been suspended on Abuja-Kaduna route for the safety of passengers and crew members.
According to the corporation efforts were being put in place to ensure absolute safety along the route.
It added that further information concerning the suspension will be conveyed to the public shortly.
Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers were stranded at Rigasa Railway station in Kaduna on Thursday morning.
Most of the passengers who booked their train tickets online decided to travel by road.
