Survivors of bombed Abuja-Kaduna bound train have given a an account of how terrorists came with a bus and abducted very important persons (VIPs) from a business class of the train on Tuesday.
The train was attacked on Tuesday at about 8.00pm on its way to Kaduna from Abuja by terrorists leading to scores dead, while several others were injured. Also, there were reports of abduction, while others escaped unhurt, too.
A survivor told journalists that after the train was attacked, terrorists drove a bus.to the scene and abducted passengers. He said: “The terrorists had access to the train and kidnapped people. They came with a bus to pick people from the business class. There were casualties in the train”.
A passenger who was lucky not to have been hit by stray bullets recounted how another female passenger who sat close to her friend was killed, stating that her friend was so traumatized to the extent that she would not allow her husband to leave alone in their room.
“My friend’s story is one of confusion, mayhem and death; she told me that the bandits accessed the train, killed many, and took some away. To get home, they had to trek through the bushes, over hills to the road”.
Also, in Kaduna, the National Union of Railway Men disclosed that the Union advised against night journey until the security situation in the country improves, but their advice was disregarded by the Railway management.
In a statement which was issued by the Secretary-General of the Union, Comrade Segun Esan, on Tuesday said, the train had been attacked in October last year which they feared for the safety of passengers and advised that night service be suspended, but unfortunately, their advice was not heeded to by the Railway management.
The Union further suggested for installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, explosive detectors and other technology-based approaches on trains, but nothing was done as safety precautionary measures.
According to him, Monday attack on train in less than five months was shocking, stating that government should do all it could to protect the Abuja-Kaduna railway station.
Esan further stated that the leadership of the union would make a specific pronouncement on the unfortunate incident soon, stressing that it was gathering information and processing same analytically, with a view to arriving at rational convergence leading to making a definite official pronouncement.
He, however, assured that the union would not relent in its effort at making the railway truly and practically safe for all.
However, when the Managing Director of NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, was contacted regarding the allegations leveled against it by the unions, he declined to comment on it.
