Armed people attacked a Kaduna-bound train carrying hundreds of passengers on Monday night.
The train, which left Abuja around 6pm, was attacked between Katari and Rijana.
The Kaduna state government confirmed the attack but said it was successfully repelled.
One of the passengers aboard the train, Anas Iro-Danmusa, took to Facebook to request prayers for those on the train.
He said the armed people placed explosives on the track that damaged the train’s engines.
“Please, this is an emergency. We are inside the train right now. The hijackers planted explosives and the train’s locomotives were ruined. We are defenseless. Train from Abuja to Kaduna. Shots are still being fired around us. We are right under the seats praying to God while we wait for help. Since 8 at night we are here. By the way Katari to Rijana. I am a living witness,” he posted.
His first post was around 9:07 pm
According to him, the bandits had surrounded the train and tried to enter the cars but the doors would not open.
“Please spread the news. We need help. Shots fired,” he posted.
More than an hour after his first post, Danmusa said soldiers had arrived and repelled the attack.
Additionally, Adam Hayatu took to Twitter to, quoting a passenger on board the train, announce that passengers had been saved by security agents.
“Alhamdulillahi! The military have secured the train. Thank you DSS, thank you Kaduna CP, thank you Samuel Aruwan, thank you DMI and all the classified people who answered our calls without hesitation and really acted on it. God bless Nigeria and everyone.”
Nigerian newspaper reported that there were 970 passengers on board the train.
“All passengers are currently lying on the floor of the train. The bandits are shooting sporadically. We are in grave danger,” a passenger told the Daily Nigerian.
Kaduna police command spokesman Mohammed Jalige did not respond to calls or text messages sent to him about the attack.
This is not the first time that bandits have attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train. Last October, bandits destroyed a section of the railway with explosives that disrupted travel.
The director general of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, confirmed that the explosives planted had damaged the track.
The Abuja-Kaduna train is very popular as it is considered safe compared to the highway which has seen several attacks by armed people.
However, the latest attack on the train may cause many passengers to rethink.
Kaduna is one of the states most affected by banditry in northwestern Nigeria, with thousands of people killed or kidnapped in recent years.
The Kaduna government issued the following statement confirming Monday’s attack. He said that security agents had secured the passengers.
Troops secure Abuja-Kaduna train trapped by terrorists
Security agencies informed the Kaduna state government that the military secured the Kaduna-bound train from Abuja trapped by terrorists.
The Kaduna state government received multiple reports of an attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train service in the general Kateri-Rijana areas.
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Relevant action agencies were urgently contacted and personnel were quickly deployed to the area to secure passengers on board.
Efforts are underway to move passengers from the scene and others who sustained injuries have been taken to hospitals for urgent medical care.
The Kaduna State Government will contact the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) to determine the passenger manifest list for efficient tracking.
This is to acquire an accurate inventory of all passengers and their actual status.
Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, who has been in constant contact with the security forces, praised them for their prompt response and thanked them for successfully securing the train and the passengers on board.
Security forces continue to comb the general area in additional rescue efforts.
Emerging developments will be communicated to the public.
signed
Samuel Aruwan Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State.