Abuja-Kaduna Train: Trouble Looms Over NRC’s Silence On Seven Kidnapped Railway Workers

•As 169 passengers still at large •172 passengers contacted, 21 missing ― NRC

There is uneasy calm at the headquarters of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) following persistent silence by the management of the Corporation over the fate that has befallen seven kidnapped railway workers who were working onboard the Abuja-Kaduna train before it came under explosive attack by a terrorist in Kaduna.

When Tribune Online visited the NRC headquarters at the weekend, some of the workers were seen discussing in groups, lamenting that the management has been issuing statements giving details of rescued passengers and missing passengers but not saying a word about the seven workers who were kidnapped by terrorists on the ill-fated train.

According to some of the workers who spoke under condition of anonymity, “It is worrying that we have not heard a word about seven of our colleagues who were kidnapped even though the NRC has been issuing statements giving updates on affected passengers.

“There were fifteen railway workers onboard that ill-fated train. Seven of the workers were kidnapped, one was killed and another seven made it safely out of the train. Among the seven kidnapped railway workers are an electrician and a Loco Driver. The name of the kidnapped Loco Driver is Danni Abdullahi while the name of the Railway Electrician is Mr Goni.

“The other five kidnapped railway workers are Usman Abdullahi, Mary Kefas, Imam Sanni Aliyu, Jesy (surname unavailable) and Anna (surname also unavailable). The only worker that died during the attack is Ishaya Lorita. All these people were part of the fifteen man crew working onboard the train before it was attacked. The management has not said a word about these workers. Even the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NURW) that is supposed to be protecting workers’ interests has been silent on the fate of the kidnapped workers.

“We are giving the Union till the closing of work on Monday before we will let the whole world know what we workers are going through in this difficult moment.”

When contacted, the President-General of the NURW, Comrade Innocent Ajiji confirmed that seven workers were actually kidnapped during the bombing of the Abuja-Kaduna train. He also confirmed that the Union is angry with the NRC management for keeping quiet on the fate of the abducted workers. He however stated that out of the seven workers, two were staff of the NRC while five were contract staff.

In the words of Comrade Ajiji, “Yes, seven workers were kidnapped on the Abuja-Kaduna train that was bombed last Monday. However, out of the seven kidnapped workers, only two are our members because they are railway workers. Those two are the Loco Driver, Mr Danni Abdullahi and the Railway Electrician, Mr Goni.

“Others are contract staff. Even the lady that was killed during the attack, Ishaya Lorita was a contract worker.

“However, we are very disappointed with the NRC management over its handling of activities since the attack occurred last Monday. None of the families of the abducted workers has been contacted by the NRC management. All the statement issued by the NRC since the attack has centered more on affected passengers and re-railing efforts. Nobody is saying a thing about the abducted workers. Are the workers not human beings?

“We are having a showdown meeting with NRC management tomorrow and will brief the media on our next line of action after tomorrow’s meeting.”

Meanwhile, the NRC in its continued efforts to update the general public on rail restoration efforts and rescue efforts disclosed late Saturday evening that two more passengers have been contacted, thereby bringing the total number of passengers contacted safe to 172 out of the 362 passengers on board the train. The Corporation however noted that the confirmed missing passengers still stand at 21, meaning 169 passengers remain at large.

In a statement signed very late on Saturday by the NRC Managing Director, Engineer Fidet Okhira, “The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) finds it incumbent to continue to update the general public on latest findings regarding the unfortunate incident of bandit attack on AK-9 of Monday 28th March 2022 and efforts at restoring the service.

“From the last Press Release, we confirmed that four numbers of Coaches (SP 00004, SP00009, SP00012 and SP00013) out of the 11 Coaches involved in the incident have been re-railed and safely moved to our Rigasa Station while work is ongoing on track repairs. We did also stated that 170 of the Passengers on-board the train are safe while 21 Passengers are reported missing.

“At the end of work on Saturday evening (02/04/2022) the NRC’s restoration team has further re-railed four more Coaches and two of the coaches (SP 00007 and SP 00013) had been safely moved to Idu and Rigasa Stations respectively. The other two Coaches are still at the site due to damaged tracks. This brings the total Coaches so far re-railed to seven with only five successfully moved to the Stations. “However, efforts are on to link the track. At the moment, a total of 80 meters of the affected section has been fixed including the replacement of affected Sleepers and twisted rails.

“The Corporation also confirms updates that a total of 172 (additional 2 persons answered their call today) passengers on board the AK9 are safe and okay while 21 Passengers are still reported missing. Let us assure our esteem passengers that the Corporation in collaboration with the Security agencies will leave no stone unturned in our efforts at rescuing the missing persons.

“Once again, the Corporation deeply condoles with those who lost loved ones and pray for the repose of the lost souls. We equally sincerely sympathise and empathise with our injured Passengers and indeed everyone on board the AK9 train of Monday 28th March, 2022 for the trauma this unfortunate incident has caused you.”

https://tribuneonlineng.com/abuja-kaduna-train-trouble-looms-over-nrcs-silence-on-seven-kidnapped-railway-workers/

I dedicate this FTC to the kidnapped persons to be released in no time
Amen

May be they are planning to up the number and cash out bigger during ransom payment.

They are not even sure on number of people that we’re kidnapped.

Can imagine what aggrieved families must be going through @ this moment. God console bereaved families and may those kidnapped be rescued safe and sound. The govt failed this nation by caressing & pampering these terrorists.

Damnnn niggar
Too bad

Imagine a generalisimo administration marred with insecurity

In a sane clime, the minister of transportation, head NRC and other key stakeholders in ministry of transportation and NRC should have either resign or been sacked by now.

Hmmm

Who can give me synonyms of a failed state?

The families of the kidnapped workers should sue the company, I hate to be treated with contempt and disdain, we are all created equal regardless of our social status

Buhari will handle security
Osinbajo will handle economy!

By the time those two idiots are done with Nigeria, una eyes go clear

Buhari....

The kidnappings are family business. So how do you expect the management of NRC to react when they're family members

God heal our land

169 kidnapped?thats a potential big pay out to the terrorist muslims

Even Pure water is now N20, some sell it 2 (50 naira).

We must organize a break-free party with the little flesh we have by the time baba comot. It's really a worse time to be a Nigerian.

No be Naija again. They make it look like it's a favour to give you a job to do. So whatever mess that comes alongside, they don't think you have a right to complain.

ok

That's what the country has been reduced to.
They are afraid of losing their job, coz it will expose Buhari's incompétence and the Federal Government will come for their head

hard to sympathize with nrc workers when their racketeering played a part in all this

they are the only people on the train with a genuine record. everyone else na racket ticket.

This country is in a mess..
Thanks buhari..

Talk hypocrisy you talk about buhari

Talk carelessness you talk about APC

I wonder who in his actual sense will compare 2014 to what we have today, in other African countries even ordinary Benin Republic the thing 1k bought for you today if you come tomorrow Na N800 you go use am buy am that's a different case in Nigeria what you bought for 1k today Just come tomorrow you will be shocked to see that the price has skyrocketed.

Nigeria has everything to be great but bad leadership and who are those voting in this bad people is just me and you , imagine with the way things has gone so bad some people still have guts to come out to defend this failures

Even in 2014 I warned them about APC I told them that though PDP was bad but we shouldn't vote in this APC people because they will worse even their campaign promises isn't viable enough that if PDP should be replaced then they shouldn't be replaced with APC because they are coming with no ideology but vengeance and vawulence only , had it been I have serious money then I would have bought shares upon shares in dollars because saw it coming

Yesterday I dragged the senator representing my zone

They told is rail is the safest means of transportation then in commerce....

Mko123:
Who can give me synonyms of a failed state?

nigeria

Na their normal things.

The zoo have lost value for human lives, but if it were cows missing, Army, Police, DSS will go against the rustlers and give us update of how many cows were recovered

God1000:
The families of the kidnapped workers should sue the company, I hate to be treated with contempt and disdain, we are all created equal regardless of our social status

in which Court who will enforce d decision of d court? I think here is abroad or where?