The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has debunked reports that an Abuja-bound train, KA4, was, Monday night, attacked by suspected bandits, between Asham and Kubwa.
Managing Director,NRC, Fidet Okhiria, while describing the report as false, however, acknowledged the presence of hoodlums along the Abuja-Kaduna route who, he said, usually hurled heavy stones at the moving train.
Okhiria, in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Media Assistant to the Minister of Transportation,Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni however, said that one of the suspects has since been arrested.
This was as he further stated that the corporation had reached out to security agencies, to ensure that such ugly incidents did not occur again.
“There was no bandits attacks on the train, it’s just a rumour otherwise they will see the bullet all over the train. It was hoodlums that threw stones on the train and because the Police got one suspect, at night more hoodlums came out to attack the train in protest against the arrest made in the afternoon.
“NRC has, however, spoken to security agencies to help us prevent such future occurrences and intervene in the matter, so they will know how best to deal with the situation.
“We however, urged the public using the train not to panic, as the Minister of Transportation and NRC will ensure safety of Nigerians on that route.”
Also, Paschal Nnorli, the Manager Abuja-Kaduna Train Service said that the train got to Idu station yesterday and there was no bandits attack.
“The attention of Nigerian Railway Corporation has been drawn to fake online news that the KA4 train from Kaduna to Abuja was attacked this afternoon(Monday) by armed bandits between Asham and Kubwa.
“This news is false. In between Asham and Kubwa sections, some hoodlums threw stones and broke the windscreen of our locomotive. The crew and armed police escort went after them, the train, however, continued its trip down to Idu,” he said.
