Abuja-Kaduna train attack: Passengers worry over safety as rail operations resume

MUHAMMAD SABIU, Northern Bureau Chief, examines the recent attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train route by suspected bandits. While the railway management said it was a mere explosion targeted at the tracks, some Nigerians who were on the train claimed that it was a terrorist attack. The question is how safe is travelling by train and what are the steps taken by the management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and the Federal Government to prevent future occurrences.

Last month, precisely on the 21st of October, 2021, Nigerians woke up to learn that a scheduled train was attacked by suspected bandits along the Abuja-Kaduna route.

It was gathered that the attack happened between Rijana and Dutse sub stations. The news of the attack was first made known by a former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani, who wrote on his Facebook page: “Yesternight, 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.”

He continued: “This early morning, I was on board when our train ran over another explosive damaged railing. The train nearly skidded off its track, then we miraculously escaped. All Kaduna-Abuja train operations need to be suspended for today until this issue is addressed.”

The news of the attack was received with mixed feelings. One of the Nigerians to react was the son of a former governor of North Central, Mohammed Kyari, who denied the senator’s claim in a Facebook post, insisting that the train was faulty and there was no attack. Kyari also said he was at the Rigasa station to receive his daughter who was also on the train.

Later, however, the management of the NRC, through its Managing Director, confirmed that the rail tracks for the Kaduna-Abuja train services was blown up by explosives planted by yet-to-be-identified persons.

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, the Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhiria, said the explosives damaged the rail tracks somewhere between Dutse and Rijana.

According to him, “Yes, there was an explosive on our rail track somewhere around Rijana and Dutse last night, and this damaged the tracks. Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure that the train services along the Kaduna-Abuja route is fully restored.”

When asked if there were gunshots aimed at the train driver and the tank of the train, the NRC MD stated that “there was nothing like that; only an explosive that went up on the track.”

“There was nothing like shooting on the train by bandits. Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure full train services are restored along that route,” he added.

But again, Senator Sani had refuted the claim of the Managing Director in an interview with the Voice of America (Hausa service).

According to him, from the window where they were standing, they saw bandits waiting for either the train to slide and attack the passengers or abduct the passengers on the train, but the driver of the train was a very brave young man who drove them to safety.

Sani queried why the MD was not telling Nigerians what actually happened. According to the former lawmaker, the windscreen of the driver’s seat was shattered as well as the front of the train.

‘Many Nigerians, even top government officials, patronise train services’

Findings by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that travelling by train appears to be the safest mode of transportion in the North, especially if one is travelling from Abuja to Kaduna.

This is because the Abuja-Kaduna road has become unsafe for motorists plying the road. In spite of concerted efforts by the government and security agencies to secure the road, hundreds of Nigerians have either been killed or kidnapped along the road.

When railway operations started six years ago, hundreds of travellers patronised the Abuja-Kaduna train services.

A railway staff, Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed that train passengers have included ministers, top government officials, traditional rulers, governors, military officers, workers, traders, and civil servants.

Findings gathered revealed that from 2016 to date, the railway has attracted thousands of people and has brought in revenue for the federal government.

For instance, data released by the NRC management and obtained by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the Abuja-Kaduna rail line generated about N130 million monthly revenue in 2019 as against the N80 million generated in the previous years.

According to the data, “The Abuja-Kaduna railway generated over N130 million monthly revenue, with N90 million spent on running cost and payment of staff at the Maiduguri stations which could not operate for now due to insecurity in the State.

”As at 2019, train operations nationwide generated about N3.09 billion and we are targeting about N6 billion when Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri come on board.”

In June, the National Bureau of Statistics had said the NRC generated N5.79 billion revenue from passengers and cargo between 2019 and the first quarter of 2021.

FG promises to improve security

The Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks that were destroyed have since been repaired and train services have also continued on the route, but the safety of travelling by train is now the topic of discussion among passengers.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, had announced while inspecting the repairs on the railway tracks that  the government was already working to apprehend those who bombed the facility.

He also said that he would meet with the Department of State Services(DSS) and the Nigerian Army on the matter.

“The repair work is completed. What is significant is that the repair was done by our Nigerian engineers and completed in record time,” he said.

On safety, Amaechi said the procurement of digital systems would be fast-tracked in order to enhance the security network on the railway.

He said: “The essence of the digital security system is to enable us to know when there is an impact on the rail. There is a sensor; when people cross the rail or do anything, we will be able to know and we will be able to forestall this kind of attack.”

‘Army may need to deploy helicopter surveillance for security on rail tracks’

A visit to Rigasa rail station in Kaduna shows that the train services are returning to normal and passengers are gradually feeling a sense of safety. But there are some passengers who still feel that security should be beefed up along the rail routes.

A passenger, Hassan Wuyo, in an interview noted that since the introduction of railway services along Abuja-Kaduna route, he has not travel by road. However, with the recent attack on the railway, he said he was worried over the safety of passengers travelling by train.

“I think something urgent needs to be done to convince passengers that travelling by train is still the safest mode of transportation along Abuja-Kaduna route,” he said.

Also speaking, a female passenger who pleaded anonymity, said since train services were introduced, she and her husband always travel by train, but with the recent security threat, she is worried about safety.

“A couple of years during the time General Buratai was in charge of the Army, helicopters were provided to escort moving trains but it is no longer so now. I think this service should be restored immediately,” she said.

But when reminded that the government has promised to provide sensors on the rail track, as part of security measures to curtail further attacks, she said: “You know Nigerians. When will the sensors arrive the country? Didn’t you listen to the Minister saying that they will have to fast-track its procurement? Do we have to wait until more havoc is done? I think the authorities should think of immediate remedy before things get out of hand.”

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