Shehu Sani
Bandits now planting bombs along Abuja-Kaduna railway, Senator Sani raises alarm
Former senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial zone during the 8th Assembly, Shehu Sani, has provided picture evidence of explosives planted by terrorists and bandits on the Abuja-Kaduna railway.
According to Senator Sani, the bandits had attacked the railway line on Wednesday, leaving behind some of the unexploded devices on the rail tracks, which were still there as at the time he passed through the route, on Thursday.
Sani’s claims of the attack comes amid silence by both the police and passengers who shuttled through the route on Wednesday, as there were no reported attacks on passengers who steadily now patronise the rail service which has become a necessity, as bandits alike have laid siege to the road, constantly kidnapping for ransom or killing commuters who dared the barely two-hour shuttle.
In a tweet, Thursday, the former lawmaker alleged that terrorists had attacked a Kaduna-Abuja train on Wednesday with explosives.
He further claimed that the terrorists also opened fire on the engine driver and fuel tank of the train.
“Yesterday, terrorists attacked the Kaduna-Abuja railway with an explosive and opened fire on the train, targeting the engine driver and 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,” Sani tweeted.
According to Sani, the train he boarded ran into a portion damaged by explosives used by terrorists in attacking a Kaduna-Abuja train on Wednesday, the previous day.
Kaduna and the rest of the states in the North West region have been under siege by bandits which has culminated in state governments in collaboration with the military shutting down services by telecommunications firms in the region in a bid to stop communication among bandits.
This, however, not played out well for residents, as it has become impossible to get reports of bandits’ and terrorists’ attacks in the region.
It is unclear if the attack formed part of discussions as President Muhammadu Buhari, earlier Thursday, presided over a security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
Others are the Ministers of Defence, Bashir Magashi, Justice, Abubakar Malami and Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.
Also in attendance are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor as well as the Service Chiefs and Inspector General of Police.
The crucial meeting reviewed current security situation across the country and how to sustain the prevailing peace.
