Eight passengers were confirmed dead and 26 others injured in the bomb attack of the Abuja- Kaduna train by terrorists on Monday night.
This is was disclosed in a statement by the Kaduna Stae Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
The commissioner said the state government has received the manifest of the ill-fated train.
Aruwan said, “The Kaduna State Government has received from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), the detailed passenger manifest for the Abuja-Kaduna train service AK9 which was attacked by terrorists on Monday.
“According to the documents received, 398 passengers bought tickets for the trip, but 362 were validated as having boarded the train through the recognized turnstile.
“The passenger manifest does not include NRC staff and security officials who were on board.
“urthermore, security agencies have reported that eight bodies were recovered and 26 persons were injured during the attack.
“Investigations are still ongoing to ascertain the status of the passengers who were on board the train and remain unaccounted for at the time of this update. Search operations are also being sustained.
“Citizens are requested to contact the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency on the phone line 09088923398, to make enquiries or provide information regarding passengers who were on board the Abuja-Kaduna train AK9.
“Further updates will be communicated to the public.”
This attack is coming barely a day after terrorists stormed Kaduna International Airport and prevented an Azman passenger plane which was already taxing from taking off.
The terrorists killed a staff of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) before they were reportedly repelled by combined teams of soldiers.
Azman Air and Air Peace have suspended their flight operations Kaduna International Airport.
On October 20, 2021, bandits had attacked the Abuja- Kaduna train destroying some portions of the tracks and the locomotive. The assailants planted explosives on the tracks and suddenly opened fire on the locomotive engine, targeting the train driver. The train which left Abuja around 6pm arrived Kaduna around 2am.
