Abducted passengers yet to regain freedom, as FG moves to reopen Abuja-Kaduna train service, May 23

Despite the prevailing hostage situation involving abducted passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train shuttle at the hands of terrorists, since Monday, March 28, this year, the Federal Ministry of Transportation has directed the resumption of the train service from next Monday, May 23.

Last April 13, the Federal Government had assured that it was on top of the situation, but more than a month later, the kidnapped passengers of the ill-fated train shuttle are yet to breathe the air of freedom.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had last April while fielding questions by State House correspondents at the end of the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), in Abuja, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, assured that the abducted passengers will regain their freedom at the hands of the terrorists.

Mohammed said security agencies are working hard to unveil the group behind the attack and the abduction of the victims, urging Nigerians to also collaborate with security personnel to smoke out the criminals.

“What the Federal Government is doing won’t be the subject matter of a press conference, because we have lives at stake. The various arms of security are working night and day to unravel the mystery surrounding the attack as a whole.

“What I can assure you is that as we speak, the respective arms of government are actually engaged in getting those victims released.

“It is natural for a father or a mother of a kidnapped person to be worried and to be concerned.’’ the minister said

The minister stated that the Kaduna-bound train was attacked by a combined team of Boko Haram insurgents dislodged from the Northeast and bandits operating in Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara states.

“What is happening now is that there is a kind of an unholy handshake between bandits and Boko Haram insurgents.

“Preliminary report of what transpired at the Kaduna train attacks shows that there is a kind of collaboration between the bandits and Boko Haram terrorists dislodged from the Northeast.

“I can tell you very confidently that the Federal Government is on the top of this matter,” he added.

The minister assured that the military, in collaboration with other security agencies, had put in place measures to bring to an end the frequent attacks on innocent citizens.

Since the attack in March, the terrorists have released a series of videos urging the Federal Government to meet their demands, which is said to the release of their commanders in detention, in addition to money.

Already, some of the abducted passengers have secured their freedom after paying ransom.

One of the hostages captured during the train attack, the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Ali-Hassan, was freed after his family reportedly paid N100 million as ransom, even as the terrorists claimed he was released as ‘we felt pity on him because of the month of Ramadan.’

While the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed that 22 passengers on the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna shuttle train attacked by terrorists, Monday night of March 28, were abducted by the attackers, it also disclosed that 8 people were killed and 26 others injured in the attack, with over 100 unaccounted for.

The corporation later added that the number of safe passengers had risen to 186.

The ill-fated Kaduna-bound train, which left Abuja 6pm on the fateful day in March, was attacked by suspected terrorists around 7.45 pm, with just 15 minutes drive left for it to arrive Kaduna.

The terrorist had reportedly planted explosives believed to be IEDs on the rail track around Katari, Kaduna state which caused the Kaduna-bound train to derail from track.

It was gathered that the train which took off around 6 pm from the Idu train station at the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja hit an explosive device about 30 minutes to Rigasa train station in Kaduna.

However, in a shock announcement, the NRC which operates the train shuttle, said it will resume operations on the route next Monday, even as the fate of the abducted passengers of the last shuttle service remain in doubt.

In a statement signed by Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Deputy Director Public Relations, Mr Yakub Mahmood, on Monday, the Board and management of the Corporation (NRC) said: “We wish to inform our valued customers that additional security measures are being put in place at both the train stations and the track to ensure the safety of the passengers on board.

 “These measures are not only for the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) but also for all the passenger train services, especially on the standard gauge railway lines. The passenger train service between Abuja-Kaduna is to commence on Monday 23rd May 2022.”

The Corporation, therefore, urged passengers to comply with the additional measures that; “Will surely be introduced for the safety of our passengers, such as requesting for passengers National Identification Numbers (NIN) as part of our internal security check, in addition, presentation of the following must be strictly complied with before boarding the train.

“Valid Photo Identification Card (ID) Reachable telephone number of Next of Kin (NOK) or close relative. Online and offline purchase of tickets must contain the passengers’ individual profile or identification data.”

The NRC management appealed to customers for understanding and urged them to cooperate with staff at the various train stations.

“We further appreciate complying with these simple security measures while passengers must desist from obtaining tickets through unauthorised (Racketeers) sources.”

On abducted passengers, the NRC said; “The concerted joint effort to secure the safe release of the abducted passengers being held hostage by the terrorists continues out of the public domain for strategic security reasons.

 “However, the Government wishes to assure the relatives of the abducted citizens still in captivity that the safe rescue of these passengers is a top priority and not to misconstrue the resumption of train services, as abandonment or nonchalant attitude of the government towards their plight.

“Government will never abdicate its responsibility in rescuing these valuable citizens, however, the government assures of its resolve not to succumb to threats by any faceless group”.