The Kaduna practice assault was considered one of a number of main incidents this yr underscoring the problem going through Nigeria’s overstretched safety forces.
A practice service linking Nigeria’s capital Abuja with the northern metropolis of Kaduna has resumed operations eight months after it was suspended following one of many nation’s most high-profile abduction incidents.
On March 28, gunmen with explosives blew up the tracks and assaulted the practice travelling between Abuja and Kaduna. They opened hearth, killing eight individuals, wounding 26, and taking up 100 passengers hostage.
The hostages had been launched in batches following negotiations with their captors, who had been believed to have collected big ransoms from their households.
Reporters from AFP information company and the native Punch newspaper who had been on the railway station in Abuja on Monday mentioned the practice departed the nation’s capital round 10am (09:00 GMT) for the two-hour journey to Kaduna.
Passengers had been few – solely occupying one-third of the practice’s capability – however excited that the service was again after eight months.
“I used to be simply ready for the graduation of this practice service once more, so I used to be so comfortable to be right here right this moment,” passenger Ganiyat Adesina, a 50-year-old college professor, advised AFP.
She had arrived early on the station to beat the gridlock on the street.
“Identical to half-hour after my arrival, we noticed a staff of navy males with two armoured tanks and different autos – about 5 of them parading all these locations,” she added.
“That is what I’m truly anticipating the federal authorities to do.”
She mentioned transferring between Abuja and Kaduna had been “very disturbing for individuals and for myself, I’ve to even cease going to Kaduna for the final eight months”.
Police mentioned that they had deployed personnel and tools to guard the passengers and safe the tracks.
The Nigerian Railway Company – operators of the practice – had deliberate to restart the Abuja-Kaduna service a lot earlier, however the households of the hostages insisted on their launch first.
They had been additionally involved concerning the security of passengers on the route.
The Abuja freeway has been repeatedly attacked by gunmen who kidnap passengers, forcing travellers to go for the practice.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who steps down after a February election, sees the event of the railway as key to his infrastructure programmes.
The Kaduna practice assault was considered one of a number of main incidents this yr underscoring the problem going through Nigeria’s overstretched safety forces.
The navy is battling a battle perpetuated by Boko Haram and its offshoots within the northeast, armed bandits within the northwest, and separatist tensions within the nation’s southeast.
The safety problem is a serious subject for Buhari’s successor earlier than the presidential poll.