October 22, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Thursday suspended train services on the Abuja-Kaduna Route over an attack on its facility.
The development came after suspected terrorist attack travellers plying the Kaduna-Abuja rail route on Wednesday night.
The NRC on Thursday confirmed the incident, saying the train left the Rigasa, Kaduna train station for Abuja in the evening when tragedy struck but denied reported shooting.
“Yes, 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 is fully restored”, Managing Director of the NRC, Engineer Fidet Okhiria, had said.
Denying reports that gunshots were aimed at the train driver, Okhiria said: “There was nothing like that, it was only an explosive that went up on the track.”
But a former lawmaker representing Kaduna South, Senator Shehu Sani, who confirmed the attack, wrote on his Facebook timeline: “Yesterday night, 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. This early morning (yesterday), I was on board when our train ran over another explosive damaged railing. The train nearly skid off its track, then we miraculously escaped. All Kaduna Abuja train operations need to be suspended for today (yesterday) until this issue is addressed.”
However, investigation has revealed that the train was attacked on Wednesday and Thursday with the intention of abducting passengers. The incursion was carried out by Boko Haram and bandits, a joint operation that confirmed their collaboration in the North-West.
Eons Intelligence reports the sighting of classified messages between a notorious bandit, Baffa, and his ally, Bala.
On October 19, 2021, a document titled “Planned Attack On Train Around Rijana, Kaduna State ” was sent to relevant government agencies.
It stated how the mission was planned and executed by the Darussalam, an Arabic code word for Boko Haram.
Baffa, whose communication was intercepted, told Bala that Darussalam and bandits led by “Danlami and Lawan” were going to plant a bomb on the railway.
Baffa said he decided not to participate in the operation because “it is risky” but believed the duo would strike successfully.
After Wednesday’s hit, the terrorists went back the next morning to bury an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
The bomb exploded but the train was able to reach the terminus at Rigasa, moving another 7 kilometers.
The plan to hijack it, seize civilians and move them to the forest is the modus operandi of outlaws controlling territories in North-West states.
On Friday, Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, Mohammed Jalige, said he could not comment, explaining that the railway is not under the preview of the command.
Nigerian Railway Command’s CP Oyediran Oyeyemi said only the Force Headquarters could speak.
Operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route have been suspended, bringing to reality the fear that activities of non-state armed actors may shut down train services.
In July, security agencies were informed that bandits were attending training conducted by Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Several bandits travelled from Zamfara State to attend drills in terrorist hideouts in Borno State, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) revealed.
A memo titled “Movement of Armed Bandits from Zamfara to Borno for Intensive Boko Haram Training” was signed by ACG Usman Auna.
The intel, conveyed with Ref. No. NIS/HQ/CGI/943, directed immigration comptrollers to intensify surveillance.
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