The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has introduced the shutdown of its Ekehen Station in Edo State until additional discover.
The motion would possibly not be unconnected with the current assault and kidnap of scores of passengers at the Igueben train station by some suspected herdsmen as the company mentioned the choice grew to become needed following rising safety challenges.
According to Punch, this was made identified in a public announcement by the NRC which was posted on the passengers’ WhatsApp Group, stating that the closure is until additional discover.
Station closed due to safety points
- The discover from NRC 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 discover reads, “Due to the incident at Ekehen station on Saturday, WITS 01/ 02 will no longer stop at Ekehen Station. Please advise our customers.”
For catch up
- Nairametrics had earlier reported that the Edo State Police command mentioned that scores of passengers ready to board a train from the Igueben station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State have been kidnapped after an assault by some suspected herdsmen.
- This was coming barely 10 months after the same incident on a bigger scale occurred when some terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train coming from Abuja, with some reported casualties and many passengers kidnapped.
- The incident was confirmed in a press release issued by the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, the place he acknowledged that the assault which occurred on Saturday night additionally left many passengers injured.
- The police authorities in the assertion mentioned that the abductors, armed with AK 47, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air earlier than abducting scores of intending vacationers into the bush.
- The police whereas noting that many of the passengers sustained bullet wounds, assured Nigerians that operatives are on the path of the abductors with an purpose to rescue the kidnap victims herded into the thickets.
- The assertion reads, “This is to inform the gents of the press that right now, seventh of January, 2023, at about 1600hrs, an unspecified quantity of herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State, and kidnapped an unspecified quantity of passengers, who have been ready to board the train to Warri.
- “The kidnappers, who shot sporadically into the air earlier than kidnapping some passengers, left some individuals with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and males have visited the scene of the crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, native vigilantes, and hunters with a view to defending the lives and property of the remaining passengers.’’