An Abuja–Kaduna bound train was on Wednesday night ambushed by suspected Bandits, detonating explosives on the rail track and causing unprecedented panic in the Kaduna metropolis.
Former senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, who was among the passengers travelling to Abuja, yesterday, narrowly escaped death when the train ran into a rail track damaged by the explosion.
Sani stated: “Yesterday (Wednesday), bandits attacked Kaduna–Abuja train. They planted an explosive that damaged the rail track and shattered the windshield of the train. They also opened fire, targeting the driver and the tank.”
According to him, the unfortunate incident happened between Dutse and Rijana stations, but the driver struggled to move to Rigasa station.
Following the explosion, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has apologised to passengers.
NRC stated yesterday that the situation had been brought under control by a relieved locomotive that rescued the train to Rigasa Station, Kaduna State.
However, the corporation has suspended, indefinitely, train services along the Abuja–Kaduna route.
In a statement on its website yesterday, NRC asserted that the services were suspended for the safety of passengers and crew.
It added that further information concerning the suspension would be conveyed to the public shortly.
