FG trails abductors of Edo train passengers
… As NRC shuts down station
By Ray Ugochukwu
The Federal Government has mobilised different security agencies to rescue the passengers allegedly abducted by unknown gunmen at the Ekehen Train Station, Iguebe Local Government Area, Edo State on Saturday evening.
The abduction of the passengers was confirmed by the Public Relations Officers (PRO), Edo State Police Command, who did not however say the number of people abducted.
Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, Transportation Minister
Though the gunmen and their motive is yet to be ascertained, sources in the area suspect they could be herdsmen.
Meanwhile, following the unfortunate incident, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the shutdown of Ekehen rail station in Edo State till further notice.
This was made known on Sunday in a public announcement which was posted on the passengers’ WhatsApp Group, stating that the closure was till further notice.
The announcement read, “this is to inform our general public and most especially our esteemed passengers, that Ekehen Station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice.”
“Due to the incident at Ekehen station on Saturday, WITS 01/ 02 will no longer stop at Ekehen Station. Please advise our customers.”
The NRC further added, “Recall that it was earlier reported that the Edo State Police command said that scores of passengers waiting to board a train from the Igueben station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State were kidnapped after an attack by some suspected herdsmen.
This was coming barely 10 months after a similar incident on a larger scale occurred when some terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train coming from Abuja, with some reported casualties and many passengers kidnapped.”
“The incident was confirmed in a statement issued by the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, where he stated that the attack which took place on Saturday evening also left many passengers injured.”
