Even as the precise number of victims killed, injured, and abducted in a gun attack on a train in northwest Kaduna state late Monday remained unknown, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari instructed the military to deal harshly with bandits.
President Buhari’s directive came when the Kaduna state administration received the passenger manifest and a news that eight deaths had been found, 41 people had been injured, and many more had been kidnapped on Tuesday night.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) verified receiving the manifest for the Abuja-Kaduna train service AK9, which was targeted by terrorists late Tuesday.
The manifest shows that 398 people purchased tickets for the journey, but only 362 were confirmed as having boarded the train through a recognized turnstile.
According to Mr Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna commissioner for internal security and home affairs, the passenger manifest did not include NRC workers and security officers who were on board.
Surveillance for security
President Buhari has also ordered the implementation of security surveillance and monitoring on the Abuja-Kaduna railway line, as well as the extension of this to the Lagos-Ibadan line.
The president, who convened an emergency conference with all security leaders, ordered that all passengers kidnapped be returned and that everyone of the “callous terrorists” be tracked down and brought to punishment for their horrific deeds.
The bombing, according to President Buhari, is a “matter of great concern.”
“No one should be able to extort money from the country. “Like most Nigerians, I am very distressed by this incident, the second of its kind, which has led in the deaths of an unknown number of passengers and injury to others,” he stated.
a callous assault
“The attack on the train, which is a safe mode of transportation for many, is heartless, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and the injured.””
Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi reacted to the event by saying that the attack on the Kaduna-bound train might have been avoided if a security surveillance system had been in place.
“I’m saddened, and I’m not sure what to say to Nigerians anymore.” It took a long time to find an integrated security surveillance and monitoring system. “We could have saved lives if the processes had been shortened,” Mr Amaechi added.
He went to the location of the incident with a group of security chiefs.
He said that the ministry lacked sufficient cameras inside the train, and that a high-tech camera capable of detecting objects from afar was required.
“The train’s cameras are unable to detect what is going on outside. “What you need is a camera that indicates there are unknown men carrying firearms 100 meters away from the train,” he stated.
“We’re considering hiring indigenous until we can obtain the necessary equipment. We also require helicopters in addition to drones.”
He indicated that the NRC may halt the nighttime train, but that stopping it was not a solution, and that instead, proper technology to assure security was required.
A bullet to the stomach
Zainab Shuaibu, a student, was shot in the stomach and killed, according to Ms Fatima Shuaibu.
She claimed that when the train approached Kaduna, they were startled by a tremendous explosion, which caused the train to derail.
According to her, the train’s security guards ordered everyone to lie down on the floor.
Terrorists arrived in (buses) and motorbikes, she added, and those who were kidnapped were transported away in the buses.
“In the train, I was sat near the window. I started seeing a torch light all of a sudden. It was approximately 8 p.m. at the time. Then, as if something had burst, there was a deafening explosion. The train abruptly veered off course. “As soon as the train came to a halt, we heard gunshots,” she added.
“The train’s security staff announced that everyone should lie down on the train’s floor.” My sister (Zainab Awal) was killed after being shot in the stomach.”
Terrorists assaulted the VIP carriage, kidnapped several persons, and carried them to the jungle, she claimed. During the two-hour ordeal, they shot at other persons until troops and the Air Force arrived.
“The terrorists were boys between the ages of 18 and 20.” Another victim, Abudul Hamid, claimed, “I saw them, they didn’t seem like Nigerians.”
