For the second time within 6 months, the Abuja-Kaduna train has come under attack by terrorists, leaving many Nigerians to question the Buhari-led government on its primary constitutional responsibility which he swore to uphold – the protection of lives and properties.
Yesterday evening, Nigeria’s social media was awashed with reports of an attack on the train en route to Kaduna from Abuja. The train departed from Abuja around 6 pm and was to arrive in Kaduna at 8 pm. However, before its time of arrival, the train which carried over 900 passengers was attacked and bombed by terrorists between Rijana and Katari in Kaduna State.
Although many Nigerians wished and prayed that it was false, the unfortunate incident was later confirmed to be true by the Kaduna State Government.
This morning, although the exact number of casualties is still sketchy, it has been reported that two cleaners of the train have been confirmed dead, with many people abducted.
Due to the incessant reports of kidnapping by armed bandits on Nigerian highways, particularly on the Kaduna-Abuja highway, thousands of commuters residing in Abuja and Kaduna have opted for train and pack on to it each day. But now, this alternative is being threatened as the train has come under attack twice in less than 7 months.
October last year, Nigerian former senator, Shehu Sani, raised an alarm on his Twitter page that the train he boarded broke down after running over an explosive.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the attack and blamed it on bandits and suspended services immediately for some time.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, train services have been immediately suspended for the safety of our dear passengers. Efforts are in place to restore service” the NRC said.
Although no casualty was reported in the first attack, yesterday’s own was different as the bandits were able to break into the train.
The second attack on the Abuja bound train may be a more worrisome development owing to the fact that a lots of people leverage on train as a means of connecting the capital territory from Kaduna after a series of attacks on the Kaduna- Abuja roads by bandits.
With this attack, it is safe to say that almost every means of getting to Kaduna has become unsafe as suspected bandits attacked the Kaduna airport last week Saturday and killed one of the airport staff.
The Abuja-Kaduna train project was executed with a bid to move people and facilitate movement of goods between ‘industrial Kaduna and Nigeria’s capital territory’, a goal that may be under threat with the targeting by bandits.
A sum of $874 million was reported as spent on constructing the Abuja-Kaduna train. Before now, operations were highlighted as smooth. Most importantly, many commuters found respite from the deadly occupation of kidnappers, bandits and robbers on the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
Insecurity on the train may create a connection problem between Kaduna and Abuja, cutting off the state in part from the federal capital territory; especially if roads are also still nowhere to go for movement.
Although the project has been subject to controversies especially bothering on management, fares rate and maintenance, it was before the attacks a safer means of transportation between Kaduna and Abuja, helping to sustain commercial value and giving people a choice of movement in the face of volatility of roads.
This is even as the government took loans to construct the Railways, thus their importance in the place of national assets owned by the country.
What have Nigerians said so far?
Nigerians have been reacting to the incident, calling on the government to rise up to the occasion and deal precisely with bandits causing havoc in the country.
According to Dipo Awojide(@ogbenidipo) on Twitter, the Nigerian government cannot afford to pamper the rampaging bandits.
“We cannot be rehabilitating terrorists and giving so called repentant terrorists jollof rice and malt. It is really unfair to families of soldiers who have paid the ultimate price. The FG should stop pampering these criminals. Deal with all of them as harshly as possible”, he tweeted.
Another user lamented the growing spate of attacks particularly in Kaduna state.
Former Vice President and Presidential aspirant under the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, also tasked the Nigerian government on finding a lasting solution to the menace of bandits. He opined that defeating bandits should not be an impossible task to carry out.
With these reactions and losses, it remains unclear what the reaction of the government would be to this latest development especially after the incident of six months ago and its avowed commitment to ensuring safety on the railway route, ensuring that movement is secure and the nation’s heavy investment achieves its purpose.