Some family members of passengers aboard the Kaduna-bound train attacked on Monday by terrorists say they are yet to know the fate of their relatives.
At the Rigasa Railway station in Kaduna on Tuesday, apprehensive family members said they were yet to establish contact with their relatives on board the ill-fated train 14 hours after the tragic incident occurred.
They therefore appealed to the Kaduna State government to come to their aid to relieve them of the apprehension they were passing through.
A resident of Ungwan Rimi area of Kaduna, Mr. Mohammed Barau, said he was at the train station to have an update regarding the incident, adding that his younger brother was on the train which was attacked by bandits on Monday night.
“We called his line several times without response until later his friend seated by him in the train picked and told us that my brother left his phone on the seat, and that he did not know his where-about.
“When we later tried to call again, the phone was switched off, and when we called the friend, he was not picking.
“By now, the Government should have released a comprehensive list of people killed, those injured, as well as the number of people evacuated.
“At least, when this is done, it would give us some peace of mind, but we have not heard anything yet,” he said
Also, Miss Lami Gombo, a resident of Kudenden in Kaduna, said she was yet to hear from her brother who was on board the train.
“His telephone lines are switched off; we have been to the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, but did not see him there.
“The development is worrisome and the entire family is confused as to whether our brother is still alive, dead, or has been kidnapped,” she said.
Others who in the same vein, saying they were burdened as a result of the non-contact with relatives on board the attacked train.
A staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, who was also in the ill-fated train, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that some of the passengers had fled into the bush for safety when the incident occurred.
“Nobody can ascertain whether passengers were kidnapped or not, but the pandemonium must have caused a lot of people to run into the bush to safeguard their lives,” said the staff, who did not want his name mentioned.
Recall that the Kaduna-bound train, which left Abuja 6pm on Monday was attacked by suspected terrorists at about 7.45 pm, barely 15 minutes away from Kaduna.
Mr. Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Internal Security, on Tuesday said the train had been secured by military personnel and the government had evacuated passengers on board.
He said staff of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) and Nigeria Red Cross, Kaduna chapter, conducted the evacuation.
However, an official of KADSEMA who did not want his name mentioned, said they were still working on the details, when asked about the casualty figure.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Railway Corporation has suspended operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route following Monday’s terrorists attack on its train.
The NRC confirmed the suspension of train services along the route in a statement via its Twitter handle, @official_NRC, on Tuesday.
“Dear passengers, due to unforeseen circumstances, Train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route has been temporarily suspended. Further communication will be given in due course”, the NRC said.
