On Sunday, the Nigeria Railway Corporation stated that Ekehen Station in Edo State would be closed till further notice.
The organization claimed that as security threats increased, a decision had to be made.
The event happened just over a year after bandits attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022, killing roughly 14 people and kidnapping 65 more.
Incase You’ve Not Heard, Scores Of Passengers Abducted As Gunmen Attack Train Station
Lois Azurfa John, a victim and a 21-year-old student at Kaduna State University, explained to our correspondent why, when held captive by the rebels, she rebuffed marriage proposals from the Boko Haram commander.
The NRC stated in a public message released on the passengers’ WhatsApp group that the closure was “till further notice.”
The statement reads, “Public Announcement: This is to inform our general public and most especially our esteemed passengers, that Ekehen Station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice.”
Another notice reads, “Due to the incident at Ekehen station on Saturday, WITS 01/ 02 will no longer stop at Ekehen Station. Please advise our customers.”
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Many people waiting to board a train from the Igueben station in the Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State were kidnapped on Saturday night, according to news reports, and many more were injured. The attackers were thought to be herders.
The event was confirmed in a statement by Chidi Nwabuzor, the Edo State Police Command spokesperson.
He claimed that the assailants, who were armed with an AK-47, entered the train station and fired randomly before kidnapping a large number of would-be travelers and taking them into the bush.
Nwabuzor reported that many of the passengers had been shot, ensuring that authorities were pursuing the kidnappers in an effort to free those who had been herded into the bush.
He said, “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that on January 7, 2023, at about 1600hrs, an unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK-47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped an unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.
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“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of the crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.
“Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated.”
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