The Nigeria Railway Corporation has suspended the Lagos-Kano and Ajaokuta train services due to fear of terrorist attacks.
Multiple sources in the Ministry of Transportation and the NRC confided in one of our correspondents that the train services would not resume until the security along the Lagos-Kano route and the Ajaokuta train station was guaranteed.
It was also learnt that the NRC suspended services at the Ajaokuta station along Warri-Itakpe route because of the attack on some passengers by gunmen on Monday.
It was gathered that the Lagos-Kano train services were suspended because of the high level of insecurity in Niger and Kaduna states, which are the routes of the train heading to Kano from Lagos.
The NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, confirmed the suspension of the train services at the Ajaokuta station and the Lagos-Kano route to.
Speaking on the services along the Warri-Itakpe route, he stated, “We have not stopped (services), rather what we said was that we are not going to be stopping at the Ajaokuta station.
“This is because yesterday (Monday), while passengers were leaving the station with their private cars and buses, they had people shooting at them. So we said we will not stop there again for passengers.
“The train is still running, but for now we will not be stopping at Ajaokuta because they have some concerns there. We heard that they removed their traditional ruler in that location and the local government chairman there.”
According to him, apart from the Abuja-Kaduna route, the corporation had also suspended services on the Lagos-Kano route because of security concerns.
Asked if there was any other train service that was not operating aside from the Abuja-Kaduna service, the NRC boss said, “No, apart from the Lagos to Kano (train service) because the Kaduna route is affected by the activities of bandits; and it (Lagos-Kano route) was stopped because we have to pass through Minna and Kaduna when heading to Kano. So we have to stop it for now.”
The Federal Government had on August 13, 2021, resumed the operations of the Lagos-Kano train service.
The Regional District Manager, Northern District of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr. Ismail Adebiyi, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on August 8.
In March, this year, the corporation denied reports that it had suspended the Lagos-Kano train service after a derailment in Jebba, Kwara State in February.
Okhiria, however, stated that the Federal Government had improved the security on the trains, adding that more men from the police and civil defence were being deployed to protect the facilities.
Another passenger, who spoke to one of our correspondents, on Tuesday confirmed that he received the NRC’s message through a WhatsApp platform.
According to the passenger, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the message reads, “Reports from the Ajaokuta axis are sketchy concerning the activities of bandits, kidnappers and herdsmen around the motorable areas. Please endeavour to always use the Itakpe axis of the train station for now. Thanks.”
Another passenger, who confided in one of our correspondents, said, “Report reaching me today (Monday) is that bandits killed six vigilantes today at Ajaokuta. Please the NRC should put a temporary ban on Ajaokuta train station immediately. Safety should be our key word.”
A concerned passenger and eyewitness, who does not want to be mentioned, said, “Good evening Sir. It is true that the security situation in and around Ajaokuta is terrible.”
NRC worker
When contacted, a staff member of the NRC in Itakpe station refused to give details of what happened but confirmed that there were security breaches at the Ajaokuta station.
He said, “Oga, you’re in this country. You know how terrorists operate. We don’t want to feed our passengers with too much information that we don’t know about and doesn’t concern us.
“Our train moves but we don’t stop at Ajaokuta for now, that’s the only thing you can hear from me. The train moves from Itakpe now; from Itakpe, we don’t have issues. But we don’t stop at Ajaokuta till further notice. When the coast is clear for us to stop there, we will let people know.”
When contacted, the Coordinator of Warri-Itakpe Train Service, Abdulganiyu Sanni, said that train activities in Ajaokuta station would resume if the local government could provide security and ensure security for passengers.
He said, “What we understood is that the vehicles that were conveying passengers to their various places, one of the vehicles was ambushed and terrorists shot at the vehicle and the passengers came down from the vehicle and ran into the bush. I am not aware that anyone was taken or died. The vehicle conveying them has only six or five persons.
“One of the passengers called and said that everyone escaped. What we as railway can do is to protect our passengers. We have advised them to use the adjacent stations on Itogbe or Itakpe because we cannot provide security”
The Kogi State Police Commissioner, Edward Egbuk, told The PUNCH that “There was security meeting today at Government House today. I cannot discuss our strategies on tackling security challenges in the state but robust intelligence led operations will commence soon please.”
Addressing journalists at the Idu train station in Abuja on Tuesday, the new Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, made it clear that the Abuja-Kaduna train service would not resume operations until those kidnapped from the train are reunited with their families.
He stated that the government was sensitive to the plights of the families of those abducted during the incident.
Tukur Mamu, the Publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald and Media Consultant to controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who withdrew as one of the negotiators, confirmed the release of the five hostages on Tuesday.
The victims include a medical doctor from Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Mustapha Imam, Akibu Lawal, Abubakar Rufai, Mukthar Shuaibu and Sidi Sharif.
Niger Assembly
Meanwhile, the Niger state House of Assembly has ordered the suspension of the already scheduled local government council elections due to insecurity.
The State Independent Electoral Commission had scheduled party primary elections for August 20-27 and the LG election for November 5, 2022.
But the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bawa who gave the directive in Minna on Tuesday, urged the state government to instruct the state INEC to suspend the scheduled timetable and comply with section 20 of the Local Government Law and section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The motion for the suspension of the local government elections was raised under matters of public importance by the member representing Bosso Constituency, Madaki Bosso.
The statement is titled ‘President Buhari calls for more international collaboration to tackle insecurity.’
Buhari said, “The devastating effect of global insecurity, climate change and the post COVID-19 era has devastated global economies. Nations continue to struggle to recover from these multiple global challenges.
“The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has undermined the progress countries have achieved in tackling food security in the last decade. While, the political instability in Libya continues to fuel terrorism in the Sahel, as well as scuttle democratic sustenance in both West and Central African regions.
“Nigeria is not left out of the equation, as we are fighting to rid our country of banditry, kidnapping, herder/farmer crisis and insurgency. We are, however, making meaningful progress with the support of friendly countries like yours to sustain these fights until we overcome these challenges.”
He added that these challenges exceeded the capacity of a single country to effectively contain.
Consequently, the Nigerian leader submitted that “The world must, therefore, work closely together.”
To the diplomats beginning their mission in the country, he said “Nigeria counts on your support in cementing the relations between our countries at both bilateral and multilateral levels to surmount these global threats to civilization.”
According to a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari was reacting to the recent attacks in Kaduna, Plateau and Sokoto states.’
The statement is titled ‘President Buhari condemns barbaric attacks in Kaduna, Plateau and Sokoto, condoles bereaved families.’
An analyst, Chidi Omeje, said suspending train service operations showed that ‘’there is serious security threat and it is a great concern for Nigerians.’’
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