NRC declares 21 passengers missing, 170 secured in Abuja-Kaduna train attacked by bandits

The Nigerian Railways Corporation has declared 21 passengers missing and 170 passengers secured after the attack by bandits on a Kaduna bound train from Abuja earlier this week. The Managing Director of the Corporation, Engineer Fidet Okhiria, in a statement disclosed that the train that was attacked had 11 coaches worked by Loco 2502, made up of four SPA Coaches with 56 sitting capacity per coach and 7 SP Coaches with 88 sitting capacity per coach and that the total seat capacity of the train is 840 seats.

He revealed that the Passenger manifest of the train contained 362 validated passengers aboard the train.

Okhiria affirmed that the NRC has been able to confirm the safety of 170 passengers, while 21 passengers are reported missing by the relatives who called the corporation.

The NRC MD disclosed that the corporation has begun processes to re-rail the Coaches affected by the bandits’ bomb attack on the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train service. He explained that the suspension of train service was because of the level of damage on the track and in honour of those that lost their lives.

The Managing Director of the Corporation, Engineer Fidet Okhiria,  also said that a high powered restoration team, led by Directors, have been working round the clock to re-rail the coaches affected by the bomb blast.

“The operation to re-rail is a coordinated two-pronged simultaneous restoration approach, While Loco 2702 with re-railment and restoration materials departed Idu Station, Abuja, to the bomb blast site, another team with Loco 2502 departed Rigasa Station, Kaduna with re-railment and restoration materials to the same site.

“At the close of work on the 1st of April 2022, Coaches SP00004, SP00009, SP00012, SP00013 have all been re-railed and safely taken to the Rigasa Station in Kaduna.

“Restoration of track for full resumption of normal train services will continue through Saturday 2nd April 2022.

“Arrangements have equally been put in place for increased security along the track and on board the train to prevent the recurrence of the unfortunate incident,” Managing Director highlighted.