EXPLOSIVES planted by suspected gunmen detonated on the Abuja/Kaduna rail track on Wednesday night and disrupted train services.
Narrating his experience, the senator who represented Kaduna Central in the eighth Senate, Shehu Sani, in an interview with the Voice of America (VOA) Hausa, said they saw the bandits who attacked them on Wednesday evening looking at the train after the explosion.
Sani said: “We saw them (bandits) from our windows. I think they were watching to see whether our train would slide from the rail track so that they could attack the passengers or abduct some of us.”
He added that “there were gunshots and they were targeted at the driver and his crew. The (bandits) intention was to separate the head of the train from the rest of the body. “In fact, we were lucky it did not hit anyone.”
The former senator maintained that the explosion hit the train and damaged the rail track, as well as the driver’s cabin.
He maintained that the driver was brave and courageous, adding that, “Even, the driver admitted that he didn’t know how he managed to drive us to safety. Later, he confessed that two options were rolling in his head. Number one was to stop the train, while the second option was to continue moving and damn the consequences.
“However, he chose the second option. He told us he was even surprised how he drove us out of danger, even with the damaged the rail tracks.”
The interview followed the statement from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) that though there was explosion from the planted explosives, there was no gunshot.
Sani added: “I really don’t know why the Nigerian Railway Corporation is trying to dodge from the fact that there was a bomb blast and gunshots.
“I feel changing the narrative at this critical time as if it was a mere incident is not in our interest.”
Earlier on Wednesday, he had posted on his Facebook, announcing the incident of Wednesday night, saying, “Yesternight (Wednesday), bandits attacked the Kaduna-Abuja train. They planted an explosive that damaged the rail track and shattered the windshield of the train engine.
“They also opened fire, targeting the driver and the tank. It happened between Dutse and Rijana stations. The driver struggled to move towards Kaduna Rigasa station.
“This early morning (Thursday), I was on board when our train ran over another explosive-damaged rail. The train nearly skidded off its track, then we miraculously escaped.
“All Kaduna/Abuja train operations need to be suspended for today (Thursday) until this issue is addressed.”
Speaking on the development, the NRC said efforts were already ongoing to restore train services along the route.
Speaking to Nigerian Tribune, Managing Director of the NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria, said the explosives damaged the rail tracks somewhere between Dutse and Rijana.
The NRC boss said: “Yes, there was an explosive on our rail track somewhere around Rijana and Dutse last night (Wednesday), and this damaged the tracks.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure that train services along the Kaduna-Abuja route are fully restored.”
When asked if there were gunshots aimed at the train driver and the tank of the train, the NRC MD said, “there was nothing like that; only an explosive that went up on the track.
“Are you aware that we even ran a train service this morning (Thursday)? There was nothing like shooting of the train by bandits. Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure full train services are restored along that route.”
In an official statement on the development, the NRC apologised to its passengers over the explosion.
According to the statement signed by the NRC management, the corporation said there was no casualty or injury suffered by anybody onboard the train.
“The Board and Management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), hereby, inform the general public, particularly our valued passengers on Abuja-Kaduna train service that there was an explosion on the rail track that affected the fuel tank of the locomotive on Abuja to Kaduna last train (AK10) of 20h October 2021.
“However, the situation has been brought under control by a relieved locomotive that rescued the train to Rigasa Station in Kaduna State.
“The NRC intends to resume train services soonest, after appropriate measures, checks and maintenance have been carried out.
“We are also pleased to inform the public that there were no reported casualties or injuries to either the passengers or train crew.
“The affected locomotive has been sent to the workshop for assessment and repairs.
“The NRC management apologises for the inconveniences experienced last night and for the non-operations of train services currently being experienced as we work towards restoration of normal services,” he said.
Earlier, a staff member of the Nigerian Railway in Rigasa, who pleaded anonymity, told Nigerian Tribune that some unidentified persons planted an explosive along Rijana station on Wednesday and damaged the rail track.
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