By John Ikani
The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has reportedly suspended train services on the Ajaokuta and Lagos-Kano routes over fears of terrorist attacks.
Heritage Times (HT) gathered that the NRC suspended services at the Ajaokuta train station along the Warri-Itakpe route after an attack on some passengers by gunmen on Monday.
It was also learnt that suspension of train services on the Lagos-Kano route is due to high level of insecurity in Niger and Kaduna states, which are the routes of the train heading to Kano from Lagos.
What the NRC is saying
The NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, confirmed the suspension of the train services at the Ajaokuta station and the Lagos-Kano route to newsmen on Tuesday.
He explained that the corporation has not stopped train services on Warri-Itakpe route but rather said they will not be stopping at the Ajaokuta station.
Okhiria said, “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.”
On if there was any other train service that was not operating aside from the Abuja-Kaduna service, the Okhiria 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.”
In case you missed it
It would be recalled that on March 29, the NRC suspended train service operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route after an attack on a train on that route by some terrorists with some 398 passengers on board.
The attack left some 8 passengers dead with scores of others seriously injured and about 200 others abducted by these terrorists.
The NRC went on to note that operations for the Abuja-Kaduna train route will resume when it has installed the appropriate surveillance technology for the trains as part of measures to prevent further attacks.
The Federal Government had on August 13, 2021, resumed the operations of the Lagos-Kano train service.
The NRC had also earlier in April as part of additional security measure said that intending train service passengers would be required to get and present their National Identification Number (NIN) with effect from May.
This is expected to be a major part of the screening process and help enhance the profiling of passengers as well as enhance the safety and security of rail users.
