Will Nigerians who prefer rail to road transportation on the popular Abuja- Kaduna corridor now have to fly or abandon journeys completely?
This is the latest puzzle as kidnappers and bandits, who made rail transportation more popular to many, on Saturday struck vehicles conveying travellers, who alighted at Rigasa railway station from Abuja, injured some of them and abducted several others.
All categories of Nigerians, including top military men, politicians, and top civil servants have taken to the heavily escorted trains as a preferred mode. There have been sightings of security choppers seen escorting trains.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) disclosed that the attack occurred along the road linking airport road from the railway station at night.
A similar attack occurred on Friday at about the same time on the same road after passengers left the train station heading to their homes in Kaduna and other places.
Already, some families of those abducted have been contacted by the kidnappers demanding N20 million ransom.
One of those shot by the kidnappers is at the moment in critical condition at the 44 Army Reference Hospital Kaduna receiving treatment.
A witness at the train station motor park told NAN on condition of anonymity that some of the vehicles hurriedly turned back when they heard gunshots.
“This is the second time they attacked vehicles conveying travellers who alighted from the train along same road.
“A similar incident happened on Friday night and again they attacked travellers on Saturday night,” he said.
The Kaduna Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, confirmed the incident and promised to provide details later