The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has temporarily cancelled trips on the Abuja-Kaduna route after reports of a bomb blast and shots been fired at its train last night.
Earlier reports by a newspaper, the NewsExpress, sent shivers down the spine of passengers who make regular trips on the route between the Federal Capital territory and Kaduna. Many prefer the trains to road journeys following incessant reports of attacks and abduction on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.
Shortly after the alleged bombing of its tracks and shots at the train, the NRC, which risked an early morning trip on Thursday, put a notice that seemed to confirm the story. It said on its ticketing App: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, train services have been immediately suspended for the safety of our dear passengers. Efforts are in place to restore service. Further information will follow immediately service is restored.”
The News Express, which regional editor was on board the ill-fated train on Wednesday night, reported that the the Abuja-Kaduna train which developed ‘fault’ about 40 kilometres to Kaduna, left passengers in a state of panic for over six hours after taking off from Idu terminal in Abuja, around 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The newspaper adds: Regional Editor of News Express Garba Muhammad and other passengers in the train said the train developed fault around 8pm after a loud sound from the engine which forced the train to stop.
“We heard a loud sound from the locomotive engine, then the train gradually came to abrupt halt,” Muhammad said.
There was pandemonium from passengers when the security men in the VIP coaches shouted for all to take cover after the loud sound.
Lights and the air conditioning systems immediately went off, leaving passengers in the heat and darkness.
“Policemen in the VIP coaches shouted to us to get down when we heard the loud bang. We all fell over each other, while some ran to other coaches, thinking that the train was under attack,” Lawal Isah, one of the passenger, said.
The panic-stricken passengers were thereafter left in the middle of the bush in the middle of the night, afraid of possible attack by bandits.
Another engine came around 12:15am and pushed the immobilised train to Rigasa, Kaduna – a short distance that took additional two hours with frequent stops and slow movements.
“There were no comments from officials in the train as to what caused the problem and why it took over four hours for another engine to come to the rescue,” one disappointed passenger lamented.
Everyday.ng reports that by around midday, videos and pictures of the incident began to emerge, while former Senator representing the Kaduna-Central District, Shehu Sani, took to Twitter to narrate his experience.
He disclosed that he was on board the Thursday morning train to Abuja when the train he boarded ran over a rail track damaged by the bandits on Wednesday, and that it took a miracle for passengers to escape.
“Yesterday, terrorists attacked the Kaduna Abuja railway with an explosive & opened fire on the train, targeting the Engine Driver & the Tank.This morning, I was on board when our train ran over another explosive damaged rail track. It took a miracle for us to escape.
“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.
“This early morning, I was on board when our train ran over another explosive damaged railings. The train nearly skid off its track, then we miraculously escaped.
“All Kaduna Abuja train operations need to be suspended for today until this issue is addressed,” Sani on social media.
