By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Two persons have been reported dead after bandits on Monday night, March 28, 2022, detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the Abuja-Kaduna rail track.

The casualties were identified as Loretta, a cleaner in the affected Abuja-bound train, and Abdul, another train worker.

Sources confirmed that the train, which took off from Idu Train Station in Abuja by 6pm, was successfully demobilized, with the about 970 passengers stranded.

“They attacked the train this (Monday) night, at a point that is about 30 minutes to Kaduna near Katari and the dreaded Rijana area,” a staffer of the Nigeria Railway Corporation based in Kaduna whose mother and some relations were in the ill-fated train, said when contacted on phone.

“My relations,” he told News Express, “are among the passengers trapped in the 6pm Kaduna bound train from Abuja.

“We were told that the bandits have surrounded the train, shooting sporadically but no one was killed at least from the coach who can reach us where are currently lying on the floor.

“My mother is in the train. There is chaos everywhere in the train. People and scampering to take cover on the floor of the coaches to shield themselves from sporadic shooting of the bandits outside.

“Those that were able to reach us on phone said the military have arrived the scene and are currently in a gun duel with the bandits.”

The Kaduna State Government says troops have secured the trapped train.

A statement by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, said that the Kaduna State Government received multiple reports of an attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train service at around Kateri-Rijana general areas.

He said relevant agencies were urgently contacted, and robust deployments of personnel were swiftly made to the area to secure the passengers on board.

“Efforts,” Aruwan said, “are ongoing to convey the passengers from the location and others that sustained injuries have been rushed to hospitals for urgent medical attention.

“The Government of Kaduna State will be liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to ascertain the list from the passengers' manifest 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 touch with the security forces, commended them for their prompt response, and thanked them for successfully securing the train and passengers on board.

“Security forces continue to comb the general area in additional rescue efforts. Emerging developments will be communicated to the public.”