Terrorists Attack: FG Tightens Security On Abuja-Kaduna Railway

Security operatives have been deployed to bushes and train stations on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor to prevent attacks from terrorists and other criminal elements.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) initiated the security measures to thwart an alleged plot to attack trains plying the route.

Recall that terrorists had on Monday, March 28, 2022, attacked an Abuja–Kaduna bound train in Katari village, Kaduna State, kidnapping many people. This incident forced the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to briefly halted operations along the route.

In a leaked letter signed by DSS Director of FCT Command, R.N. Adepemu, entitled, ‘Security Alert: Impending Threat By A Coalition Of Banditry Syndicate To Attack Abuja-Kaduna Train Service Along AKTS Corridor,’ the DSS warned train passengers to be extra vigilant over the impending attack.

The DSS warned of an “impending threat to seamless train transportation along the Abuja – Kaduna Train Service (AKTS),” adding that a coalition of banditry syndicates was plotting to attack the Abuja-Kaduna train aimed at kidnapping passengers on board for ransom any moment from now.

According to The Nation, a top official of the NRC revealed that each train will now have at least 15 riot police officers on board. This is apart from a close circuit camera and Thuraya phone in each coach.

The official explained that the security measures were in line with the content of a letter to the NRC by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command of the DSS.

The NRC official said: “I spoke with the security team today, and they confirmed to me that soldiers have already been deployed in the forests. The men deployed include personnel from the Air Force and Army.

“I can confirm that to you because some of the staff who were on escort operation with the train from Abuja-Kaduna saw some of the soldiers in each of the stations and even in the bushes.

“From the information available to me, the Chief of Defence Staff, in collaboration with the Chief of Army Staff, instructed that the bushes in Rigasa, Jere, and Asham be combed thoroughly to fish out the bad elements.

“The number of security personnel on the train has not increased, but on each trip from Abuja to Kaduna, not less than 15 Mobile Police Officers join the train, and they are fully armed.

“We also have surveillance camera installed on each of the locomotives, which is monitored from the Idu Station. So the operators can see what is going in and around the train.

“The stations have also been equipped with Thuraya phone and calls from it can be monitored from the NRC headquarters in Lagos and also by the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

“So, to the best of my knowledge, these measures and some others that I will not like to mention have been put in place to forestall the attack. We will not witness what we witnessed in March last year.”