A train conveying over 900 passengers from Abuja to Kaduna was on Monday night attacked by gunmen suspected to be bandits in Kaduna State.
NewsGazette learnt that about 970 passengers were rescued by security operatives who mobilised to the spot.
It was further learnt that some passengers sustained injuries while many were kidnapped by the attackers.
The bandits reportedly attacked the train around Dutse axis in Kaduna, a few kilometres to the Rigasa Train Station in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
One of the passengers on the train told Channels Television that the bandits bombed the train track with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which forced the train to derail.
Upon the stoppage of the train, the assailants were said to have begun to fire gunshots sporadically.
He added that the terrorists later forced their way into the train and kidnapped an unspecified number of people, with some others feared killed.
Another passenger on the train, Anas Danmusa, took to his Facebook handle to cry for help.
“Please this is an emergency. We are inside train at the moment. Kidnappers planted explosives and the train engines have been ruined. We are helpless. Abuja to Kaduna train. Gunshots still being fired right around us. We are just under the seats praying to God while waiting for help. Since 8pm we hv bn here. Btw Katari to Rijana. I am a living witness….
“There is bad network where we are at the moment. It is just luck that I am able to type this. They are actually trying to force themselves inside the train…no help yet. Over 1 hour,” he wrote
