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There are uncertainties about the safety of passengers on a Kaduna-bound train, which reportedly derailed on Monday after explosives believed to be planted on the rail track went off within Kaduna State.
The evening train, which took off from Idu Train Station at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at about 6pm hit the explosive about 30 minutes to Rigasa Train Station in Igabi Local Government Area of the State.
The train was conveying about 900 passengers from Abuja to Kaduna when it was attacked by terrorists suspected to be bandits.
Many passengers were feared injured while several others were said to have been kidnapped by the rampaging gunmen.
According to eyewitnesses, the explosives planted by the bandits bombed the trail track, causing the train to derail.
Upon the stoppage of the train, the assailants were said to have begun to fire gunshots sporadically.
A passenger in a distress message disclosed that the terrorists later forced their way into the train and kidnapped an unspecified number of people, with some others feared killed.
Meanwhile, troops have been mobilised to the scene of the attack to rescue the remaining passengers.
According to the passenger, nobody could come to the rescue of the victims about one hour into the incident.
However, the Kaduna State Government has confirmed that the military has secured the Kaduna-bound train from Abuja attacked by terrorists.
“The Kaduna State Government received multiple reports of an attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train service at around Kateri-Rijana general areas,” a statement signed by the State’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said.
“Relevant action agencies were urgently contacted, and robust deployments of personnel were swiftly made to the area to secure the passengers on board.
“Efforts are ongoing to convey the passengers from the location and others that sustained injuries have been rushed to hospitals for urgent medical attention.
“The Government of Kaduna State will be liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to ascertain the list from the passengers’ manifest for efficient tracking.
“This is to acquire an accurate inventory of all passengers and their actual status.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i who has been in constant touch with the security forces, commended them for their prompt response, and thanked them for successfully securing the train and passengers on board”, the Kaduna State Government stated.
Speaking of efforts in pursuit of the gunmen, the state added that “Security forces continue to comb the general area in additional rescue efforts.
“Emerging developments will be communicated to the public”, the Sate government said.
Source: StreetReporters.ng
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