TheNewsGuru

Tag: Abuja-Kaduna

  • Kaduna-Abuja Route: NRC postpones resumption date

    Kaduna-Abuja Route: NRC postpones resumption date

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended the resumption of train services on the Abuja-Kaduna route.

    NewsGuru.com reports that an Abuja bound train travelling from Kaduna was attacked by bandits few months back where eight passengers died during the attack, while many were kidnapped.

    NRC stopped operations of Kaduna -Abuja route over the March 31st train attack.

     

    Meanwhile, the train service was scheduled to resume on Monday, May 23, 2022, but in a statement on Friday, Yakubu Mahmood, the spokesperson of NRC, said a new date would be announced soon.

    “Sequel to our earlier Press Release No. 10 dated 16th May 2022 on the above caption, the General Public is kindly invited to note the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is announcing a shift in the resumption date for Abuja Kaduna,” the statement reads.

    Mahmood has assured the affected families that it was working hard to secure the victims’ release.

  • FG announces resumption of Abuja-Kaduna train service

    FG announces resumption of Abuja-Kaduna train service

    The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMoT), has directed that the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) should resume on May 23.

    The Deputy Director, Public Relations of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Yakub Mahmood, made this known in a statement issued in Lagos on Monday.

    A Kaduna-bound train from Abuja was attacked on March 28 by armed bandits, during which at least eight persons were killed and others kidnapped or missing.

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation on March 29 suspended train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route indefinitely.

    Mahmood said that the corporation wished to inform its valued customers that additional security measures were being put in place at both the train stations and the track to ensure the safety of passengers onboard.

    He said that such measures were not only for the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) but also for all the passenger train services, especially on the standard gauge railway lines.

    “Consequently, the passengers are hereby enjoined to cooperate with the NRC in order to enjoy improved service delivery, safety and comfort.

    “This is by patiently complying with additional measures that will surely be introduced for the safety of our passengers, such as requesting for passengers National Identification Numbers (NIN).

    “The NIN is part of our internal security check; in addition, presentation of the following must be strictly complied with before boarding the train:

    “A valid photo Identification Card (ID), reachable telephone number of Next of Kin (NOK) or close relative and an Online and offline purchase of tickets must contain the passenger’s individual profile or identification data,” he said.

    Mahmood said that concerted effort to secure the safe release of the abducted passengers being held hostage by the terrorists was continuing out of the public domain for strategic security reasons.

    He said that the government wished to assure the relatives of the abducted citizens still in captivity that the safe rescue of the passengers was a top priority.

    The NRC official said that they should not misconstrue the resumption of train services as abandonment or nonchalant attitude of the government towards their plight.

    He said that the federal government would never abdicate its responsibility in rescuing these valuable citizens, however, it assured of its resolve not to succumb to threats by any faceless group.

    Mahmood appealed to customers for understanding and invited them to cooperate with their staff at the various train stations.

    He urged passengers to desist from obtaining tickets through unauthorised sources.

  • NRC doesn’t cross check the identification of passengers on tickets – Amaechi

    NRC doesn’t cross check the identification of passengers on tickets – Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to handover tickets and passengers’ identification to Secure ID, the company in charge of the E-Ticketing platform for Abuja-Kaduna rail service.

    According to Amaechi, this will help in reducing incidents of crime and also curb security challenges on the route.

    ‘What the National Assembly told me is that NRC doesn’t cross check the identification of passengers on the tickets’

    Amaechi said this when the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission(ICRC) visited and presented the Full Business Case Certificates (FBC) for the Lagos- Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri E-Ticketing service, to him in Abuja.

    He said the introduction of the E-Ticketing platform for Abuja-Kaduna, blocked all revenue leakages and increased generated revenue on the route from about N100million to N400million monthly.

    “The benefits of the E-Ticketing is that we rose from N100million to N400 million per month, which is an improvement.

    “We have been able to do something that will eliminate leakages.

    “The one I think I may disagree with the public, is the issue of ticket racketeering, I have spoken with the person in charge of Abuja-Kaduna e- ticket platform to take over the identification process from NRC.

    “Because what the National Assembly told me is that NRC doesn’t cross check the identification of passengers on the tickets. They wanted to do it, but they have not gotten the approval from NRC.

    “So, I have told NRC to allow them do it, so that we match faces with the names, it’s not all about crime alone but is also security, so we release it to those security outlets.

    “Even though we cannot eliminate 100 percent crime and corruption, it will reduce the danger of having to run into security crises.

    ”So, that we know that what we are battling with is not crises in our terminals, but on the way and I believe that, that also will be sorted out as we go to cabinet for approval of the security gadgets, “Amaechi said.

    While presenting the FBC, Mr Michael Ohiani, the Acting Director-General of the ICRC, he however said that the concession was for a period of ten years.

    According to Ohiani, it will generate over N140billion for the country during the period and also help create over 3000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.

    “The concession is for 10 years. It is going to generate over N140billion to the Federal Government, most importantly, it will also create job opportunities for over 3000 direct and indirect jobs.

    ” The next phase is for the Hon. Minister to take it to the Federal Executive Council for approval and the Ministry of Justice will now clear it, “Ohiani said.

  • Kaduna train attack: NRC confirms 21 passengers still missing

    Kaduna train attack: NRC confirms 21 passengers still missing

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), has confirmed the safety of 170 passengers aboard the Abuja-Kaduna train attacked by terrorists last Monday while 21 others were still missing.

    NRC’s Managing Director, Mr Fidet Okhiria, said this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos while giving update on the incident, which occurred on March 28, at Kateri-Rijana area of Kaduna State.

    He said said that seven coaches have been recovered while the Corporation had intensified efforts towards restoration of the services.

    Okhiria said that the Corporation in collaboration with security agencies would leave no stone unturned in their efforts at rescuing the missing persons.

    “From the last release, we confirmed that four Coaches (SP 00004, SP00009, SP00012 and SP00013) out of the 11 Coaches involved in the incident have been re-railed and safely moved to Rigasa Station while work is ongoing on track repairs.

    “We did also stated that 170 of the passengers onboard the train are safe while 21 other passengers are reported missing.

    “At the end of work on Saturday evening (02/04/2022) the NRC’s restoration team has further rerailed four more Coaches and two of the coaches (SP 00007 and SP 00013) had been safely moved to Idu and Rigasa Stations respectively.

    “The other two coaches are still at the site due to damaged tracks. This brings the total coaches so far rerailed to 7, but only 5 successfully moved to the stations.

    “However, efforts are on to linked the track, at the moment, a total of 80 meters of the affected section has been fixed including replacement of affected sleepers and twisted rails,” Okhiria said.

    He said the Corporation deeply condoles with those who lost loved ones and pray for the repose of their souls.

    He said that the management equally sympatised with the injured passengers and indeed everyone on board the AK9 train of Monday 28, for the trauma this unfortunate incident had caused them.

    Okhiria expressed sincere gratitude to the security agencies, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Police, NSCDC among others for their support and cooperation.

    He thanked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Baba Alkali, for support and visit to the accident site, adding that the visit boosted their morales.

    The NRC boss assured readiness of the Corporation to update Nigerians on the development to prevent misleading information and falsehood.

  • Train attack: Federal lawmakers not safe as bandits ask kidnapped victims if they were legislators

    Train attack: Federal lawmakers not safe as bandits ask kidnapped victims if they were legislators

    …as victims narrate ordeal

    …bandits ages ranged from 18-22years

     

    More heart-rending narratives have continued to re-echo over last Monday’s train attack by terrorists as victims recall their experiences explaining that they wanted legislators identified.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports most victims interviewed narrated how the fair looking young men operated before the arrival of a rescue team.

    Adamu Alhassan a victim who spoke in Hausa said:” they were a bunch of young men between the ages of 18 and 22years and they were ruthless.

    ” I overheard one of the bandits repeatedly asked in Hausa whether a victim was a legislator because they wanted them alive.

    “It was a horrifying experience as the lady I asked to give me water to drink was probably the first hit by a bullet and immediately she fell down I lied down on the ground on top of another dead victim.

    ” I am still in shock because I can’t imagine young men dealing with children that can’t even fend for themselves.

    Another victim simply identified as Maimuna also narrated her ordeal saying:

    “They were all young men of between 18 and 22 years and they were fair in complexion threatening everybody with highly sophisticated weapons.

  • Train attack: Saraki lists 5 things government must do to end insecurity

    Train attack: Saraki lists 5 things government must do to end insecurity

    Former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has listed five things that the federal government must do to end the current insecurity across the country.

    In posts on his verified social media pages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, Saraki, who presided over the 8th Senate’s 20-Point Security Recommendations which were forwarded to the executive, emphasized the need for effective intelligence sharing and the use of technology in order to combat terrorism in Nigeria.

    The former President of the Senate said:

    “In the last 96-hours, terrorists have overrun an airport, bombed two trains with thousands of Nigerians, and killed and injured several innocent citizens. As angry as I am — and we all are — about these attacks, one thing is clear: THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

    “The recent attack we have seen at the Gidan train station is yet another example of why people no longer feel safe in Nigeria.

    “We have seen too many attacks in too many communities across the country. We have lost far too many lives to still be at this point — commiserating daily with one family, one community, or the other. We need real solutions.

    “As I have reiterated for many years, drastic and decisive steps need to be taken to review our nation’s basic security infrastructure to protect lives and property.

    “One, the federal government must immediately establish an inter-agency task force that will formulate strategies to smoke out all bandits on the Kaduna-Abuja rail and vehicle routes. The recommendations of this task force must be acted upon immediately. In the long term, the task force should provide Nigerians with a strategy for ridding the entire country of bandits, insurgents, and kidnappers.

    “Two, the service chiefs must have a meeting and develop an immediate plan for inter-agency collaboration. The gaps in coordination, intelligence-sharing, and synergy amongst our security agencies must be immediately redressed.

    “Three, we must adopt 21st-century solutions to our present-day problems. We must make better use of technology to track the activities of these terrorists. We must equip our security operatives with the modern tools and equipment that they need to keep us all safe and prevent such attacks in the future.

    “Four, we cannot view these attacks in isolation. Our intelligence network must be proactive. We must be able to analyze and plan effectively to deal with all perceived threats and all enemies of the Nigerian people.

    “Five, we must show the strength of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by making sure that our Police, DSS, and Armed Forces immediately find, apprehend and prosecute all those that planned, participated, or facilitated these attacks in any way.

    “We cannot continue like this. Two days ago, 970 people were attacked on a train between Katari and Rijana. Yesterday, Gidan. A few days ago, terrorists attacked the Kaduna Airport. Our people cannot continue to live with the constant pervasive fear of: “Where next?”

    “For the sake of all Nigerians, we need real solutions and decisive action,” Dr. Saraki stated.

  • Full list of passengers who boarded Abuja-Kaduna train released

    Full list of passengers who boarded Abuja-Kaduna train released

    The full names of passengers who boarded the ill-fated train have been released.

    Recall that Some unknown Gunmen attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train at Rinina, leaving many injured, while some died in the incident.

    Many were kidnapped, former Zamfara state deputy Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala Liman is still missing.

    Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi disclosed that no fewer than eight persons were killed during the terrorists’ attack ,while about 25 persons have been hospitalized.

    He disclosed this while on inspection of the site Tuesday evening.

    Meanwhile, Amaechi also added that some of the passengers were still missing.

    Find attached below the full list:

     

     

     

  • Train attack, barbaric act – Northern Govs

    Train attack, barbaric act – Northern Govs

    The Northern Governors’ Forum, has described the train attack conveying 970 passengers on Monday along Kaduna-Abuja route by terrorists, as ‘babaric and horrifying’.

    The forum in a statement by its chairman and governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong, expressed sorrow and fury over the attack.

    The statement was conveyed by Lalong’s Director of Press and Public Affairs , Dr. Makut Macham, on Tuesday in Jos.

    The forum condemned the attack where terrorists reportedly use explosives to blow up Abuja-Kaduna rail track, leaving some passengers killed ,injured and kidnapped.

    “The entire Governors and people of the region as well as other Nigerians are distressed over the unfortunate attack on innocent commuters by terrorists, who have demonstrated total disregard for human lives and compassion.

    “The forum sympathises with the families of those killed as well as those kidnapped or injured.

    “It condemns the terrorist act in totality and commends the armed forces for their quick intervention which prevented further escalation of the incident.

    “The northern governors therefore encourage the security forces to intensify their search and rescue efforts in ensuring that those kidnapped are released without further delay and the fleeing terrorists are arrested and brought to justice.

    “The forum is working with the federal government and Gov.Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State, to ensure that this incident and other recent terrorist attacks on communities in the state are dealt with decisively,”.

    The forum also called on Nigerians to support security forces in their investigations and mandate of protecting lives and property through volunteering relevant information about criminal elements in the region and the country.

    It said that state governments in the region had made more investments in the security sector in collaboration with the federal government, to boost the capacity of security forces.

    The forum also appreciated the compassion demonstrated by Nigerians in the donation of blood to victims currently undergoing medical care in various health facilities.

  • Abuja-Kaduna train: What Army Chief said during visit to scene of terror attack

    Abuja-Kaduna train: What Army Chief said during visit to scene of terror attack

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, on Tuesday visited the scene of the Kaduna-Abuja train attack and ordered troops to intensify search and rescue operations as well as hunt down the terrorists.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Nwachukwu said the COAS had assessed the security situation around the general area of the attack and inspected the attacked train, as well as the rail track to evaluate the degree of damage.

    He said Yahaya was accompanied by some principal staff officers of the Army Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division.

    “He ordered the troops of the Nigerian army and other security agencies to intensify their search and rescue operations to ensure that the kidnapped victims were rescued unconditionally.

    “The COAS has also assured Nigerians that the troops would be undeterred and vehement in the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality.

    “He urged members of the surrounding communities and all Nigerians to continue to avail troops with credible information to enhance their operations across the country.

    “Yahaya observed that the attack reverberates the need for critical stakeholders to review the security of railways across the country in order to achieve the desired security architecture for railway transportation,” he said.

  • Bombed train: Sad! Nigerians react over female doctor who died after tweeting of gun shot wounds

    Bombed train: Sad! Nigerians react over female doctor who died after tweeting of gun shot wounds

    Mixed reactions have trailed death of Nigerian female doctor on board ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna bound train last Monday identified as Chinelo who died after tweeting of gun shot wounds.

    The doctor identified as Chinelo, had taken to her Twitter handle last night to ask people to pray for her after she sustained a gunshot injury during the attack.

    She tweeted:

    ”I’m in the train . I have been shot please pray for me.”

    Her friend via his Twitter handle this morning disclosed that she didn’t make it.

    ”Just woke up to a sad news My friend just woke up to losing a close friend who was shot at the Abuja Kaduna train incident by terrorists She tweeted yesterday that we should pray for her. Sadly she didn’t make it. She was a Doctor Nigeria why..I’m heartbroken

    I was just here yesterday tweeting and asking if there were medical personnels on the train who could offer emergency services And some people were here saying why will I think of such a thing..really?..for basic first aid to be provided for injured May Nigeria not happen to us.