No Panic: Gunmen attack Kaduna-Abuja train in Rijanna, the true story
Contrary to the belief that Abuja bound train was attacked by those suspected to be bandits, the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation has debunked that, saying that the panic was as a result of stone thrown at the train by some boys, which affected only one window.
It was reported that Armed men suspected to be kidnappers Thursday morning attacked an Abuja bound train with projectiles, shattering one of the windows on the train.
The train which left the Rigassa train station at around 10 am was attacked a few kilometres to Rijanna, about forty kilometres from Kaduna.
According to Vanguard, Rijanna is notorious on the Abuja Kaduna highway as a haven for criminals, especially kidnappers who routinely kidnapped commuters on the Highway.
Culling from an eye witness as reported in Vanguard, He said because of the “loud bang” that accompanied the attack, it must have come from a “ballistic projectile” No passenger was hurt in the incidence as the windows of the coaches, though not bulletproof, are believed to have been tampered.
On the contrary, the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation has described the report as untrue, calling on Nigerians not to panic.
Reacting to the purported incident, Mr Fidet Okhiria told News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja that NRC’s priority was to ensure safe transportation of all passengers to their destinations.
He denied claims that a train conveying passengers to Abuja from Kaduna was attacked by suspected gunmen.
“This news is not correct. What happened according to the police escorts on the train is that a stone was thrown at the train by some boys, which affected only the window glass of coach SP4.
“Nigerians should not panic as the news of the suspected attack is false and NRC is doing everything possible to ensure safety of passengers,” Okhiria said.
NAN reports that some national dailies had reported that armed men suspected to be kidnappers on Thursday morning attacked an Abuja-bound train with guns and other weapons.
The report alleged that the train, which left the Rigasa train station in Kaduna, at around 10 a.m. was attacked a few kilometres to Katari, about 70 kilometres to Abuja.
Meanwhile, Mr Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), has assured Nigerians of the corporation’s commitment to the safety of passengers and train along the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS).
NAN/Vanguard/NewsTrack
