By Mamza Abubakar
Clarifications have been offered by the management of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) as it’s Managing Director, Mr. Freeborn Okhira, has explained 18 armed personnel were aboard the Kaduna-Abuja train which was attacked three days ago by terrorists.
The train carrying 397 passengers was attacked by a volley of gunshots by the terrorists after they successfully used bombs to cut off the track and derail the train.
The terrorists killed no fewer than eight persons on the spot and took several other persons, yet to be fully ascertained, as hostages to the nearby bush.
The incident happened at a notorious Town called Rijana, which the terrorists had made as their haven from where they serially attacked commuters plying along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, rending the road unsafe for years now.
The terrorists had last year cut off portions of the Abuja-Kaduna rail track and shot at a train but could not stop it. That particular train did not derail.
Some people had also insinuated that the crew and security were unable to effectively communicate the dire situation which was why immediate relief did not come until the terrorists had had their way and escaped with some victims.
Mr. Okhria while reaching to blames from some members of the public that the ill-fated train was not properly protected inspite of conveying several people, including some VIPs and plying along a volatile route, said the situation did not call for blame game.
He urged that all hands must be on the deck to forestall reoccurence.
the NRC boss explained that immediately the attack occurred, the train service internal communication gadget was cut off from the main control room, thus making communication an impossible task.
‘‘There are some security apparatus that you have to install that requires some levels of approvals and licences but unfortunately, we didn’t get the go-ahead to do that,’’ he said.
He explained further that the NRC is working on a multi-layer security system to ensure that if one line of security fails, the other does not.
This, he said, would entail the installation of track sensor, deployment of satellite systems and drones to provide effective security for people using train as a means of transportation.
The Southern Kaduna axis had for long remained a sore section of the country with incessant attacks by terrorists on Nigerians, residents and public institutions, including military formations and other security services and the Kaduna Airport.
