Edo train attack: 1 suspect nabbed, passenger’s abandoned baby recovered, as police, vigilante comb forest for attackers

Edo Government has confirmed the arrest of one suspect involved in the armed attack, last Saturday evening, by suspected herdsmen on the Ekehen Train Station, in the Igueben axis of the state, adding further that a baby belonging to one of the abducted passengers was also found in the bush abandoned by the attackers.

This is just as the Edo State Police Command confirmed that 32 passengers were abducted at the train station by the attackers during the violent attack, last Saturday.

The unidentified suspect arrested by the police is said to be the attackers’ chief negotiator, who was nabbed during an extensive bush combing ordered by the State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Dankwara.

“The suspect is helping the police with their investigation,” the state police commissioner, CP Dankwara said.

The police strike teams were drawn from Irrua Area command, Anti Kidnapping Squad, Crack team, Igueben Divisional Headquarters and some members of the Esan Vigilante Network called “Atanakpa”.

Also, a baby abducted along with its parents was dropped in a nearby bush. 

The kidnappers had reportedly called a family member to pick up the child while leading the parents into the forest.

Police said they recovered the phones of the abducted passengers on the suspect.

On Sunday, Edo state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu and CP Dankwara, visited the Railway mini station in Igueben, where the incident happened.

They have requested extensive bush combing to rescue those kidnapped unhurt.

Meanwhile, Edo commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, confirmed that a combined team of Military, the police, men of the vigilante network and hunters have been deployed to hunt down the kidnappers.

Nehikhare, who gave the update on the effort of the Edo Government to rescue the 32 kidnapped passengers, Sunday, in a statement, in Benin City, disclosed that one passenger out of the 32 abducted had escaped from his captives.

“At the moment, security personnel made up of the military and the police as well as men of the vigilante network and hunters are intensifying search and rescue operations in reasonable radius to rescue the kidnapped victims.

“At 3 pm on Sunday, one suspect has been captured and is helping Police with their investigation.”

“One victim out of the 32 people abducted escaped from the hands of the abductors. We are confident that the other victims will be rescued in the coming hours.”

“The Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has visited the Igueben Train Station for an on-the0spot assessment.

“The government condoles with the families of the victim for the unfortunate incident.

The Commissioner appealed for calm and urged citizens to assist security personnel with information on suspicious movements in and around their neighbourhoods, particularly where the rescue operation is taking place.

Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has already directed a shutdown of the Ekehen Train Station in Edo State indefinitely.

The action follows last Saturday evening’s attack on the facility by gunmen believed to herdsmen, who stormed the terminus and abducted some passengers, while injuring others in the attack.

This is also as the Federal Government has condemned the kidnapping of passengers at the Tom Ikimi Train Station Igueben, also known as the Ekehen Train Station, in the state.

According to the NRC, the decision became necessary following rising security challenges.

A public announcement sent out separately by the NRC posted on the passengers’ WhatsApp Group further explained that the closure was ‘till further notice.’

“Public Announcement: This is to inform our general public and most especially our esteemed passengers, that Ekehen Station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice.”

Another notice read: “Due to the incident at Ekehen station on Saturday, WITS 01/ 02 will no longer stop at Ekehen Station. Please advise our customers.”

The gunmen had stormed the train station, Saturday evening, abducting an undisclosed number of passengers waiting to board a train from the Igueben station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State, while many others sustained injuries.

The attack was later confirmed by Spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, who said in a statement, that the attackers, armed with AK 47, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air before abducting scores of intending travellers into the bush.

Nwabuzor said that many of the passengers sustained bullet wounds, assuring that operatives were on the trail of the abductors with an aim to rescue those the kidnap victims herded into the bush.

“This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that on January 7, 2023, at about 1600hrs, an unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped an unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.

“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of the crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.

“Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated.”

It is yet unclear the exact number of casualties in the attack.

Meanwhile, a Ministry of Transportation statement through its Director, Press & Public Relations, Mr. Henshaw Ogubike, Sunday, however, ‘reassured that the security agencies are making efforts to rescue the kidnapped train passengers.’

It said the Nigerian Police is on the trail of the criminals and have mobilised with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.

“The Government is saddened by this unpleasant development and assures on its prompt response to the ugly situation,” the statement added.

The number of victims is still unspecified.

The attack comes barely one year after Islamist terrorists has attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train shuttle on March 28, last year, abducting nearly 70 passengers, even as 17 persons were confirmed to have died from gunshot injuries sustained from the attack.

That attack led to the shutdown of the shuttle service for many month until its reopening by the NRC in December, last year.