31st March, 2022
By Mustapha Yauri
The Nigerian Railway Corporation on Thursday evening announced that another of its train has derailed in Kaduna, claiming the life of the driver, three days after terrorists attack on a train bound for the same state from Abuja.
Malam Abdullahi Alhaji, Public Relations Officer, Northern Regional District of the Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC) told the News Agency of Nigeria that the narrow gauge train travelling from Lagos to Kano derailed at Farin Ruwa, near Jaji in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
He said the cargo train was conveying soft drinks from Lagos to Kano before it derailed in Kaduna.
The Public Relation Officer identified the loan casualty in the train accident as Bala Kawu, the driver of the train
He attributed the accident to vandalization of the slippers and other accessories of the rail track in the area.
Alhaji said rescue efforts are currently ongoing to recover the remains of the deceased to salvage the situation for the train to continue its journey to Kano.
Terrorists had on Monday attacked a train traveling from Lagos to Kaduna at Dutse village in Chikun Local Government Area, just a few kilometres from the Rigasa train station, the last transit point of the train.
The terrorists had used IEDs to blow off the rail tracks, an action which led to the derailment of the train.
They had subsequently attacked launch an attack on the train, shooting the passengers and kidnapping scores of other.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said about eight persons have so far been confirmed dead and 41 hospitalised in the attack on the Kaduna bound train.
Amaechi, who made the disclosure while inspecting the scene of the attack, described the situation as devastating.
”We dont have all the figures of missing persons, kidnapped and those injured at the moment.
”The numbers we have is that there are eight casualties. There are about 41 persons in different hospitals and the total number of passengers who got tickets are 398.
”So, we have have to wait on the security, the Kaduna State government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation.They are all trying to make contact with those on the manifest.
”There are few persons who are not on the manifest like the staff of the NRC, staff of the cleaning contractor, they are not on the manifest and we may not be able to completely account for them but those on the manifest, calls are being made to reach them,” Amaechi said.