The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has resumed operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route, shut down after reports of a bomb blast and shots been fired at its train on Wednesday.
In a notice on its ticketing website, after a 2-day shut down, the corporation, which blamed vandals of rail tracks for the damage on its tracks, said it has resumed operations.
Its notice late Friday reads: DEAR ESTEEMED CUSTOMERS, SERVICE HAS BEEN RESTORED ON THE ABUJA – KADUNA SERVICE. CUSTOMERS WITH UNUSED TICKETS FOR THE 21ST AND 22ND OF OCTOBER SHOULD KINDLY CONTACT THE CUSTOMER CARE UNIT (customercare@tps.ng and 01 888 7741) FOR RESCHEDULING. KINDLY GIVE 48HRS NOTICE AHEAD OF NEW TRAVEL DATE. THIS OFFER IS OPEN FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS AND WILL EXPIRE ON THE 6TH OF NOVEMBER 2021. WE SINCERELY APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE
Recall that the NRC denied on Thursday that the damage on its track was the handiwork of bandits or terrorists.
Everyday.ng reports that by midday on Thursday, videos and pictures of the alleged Wednesday bombing and shooting incidents began to emerge on social media, while former Senator representing the Kaduna-Central District, Shehu Sani, took to Twitter to narrate his experience.
He disclosed that he was on board the Thursday morning train to Abuja when the train he boarded ran over a rail track damaged by the bandits on Wednesday, and that it took a miracle for passengers to escape.
“Yesterday, terrorists attacked the Kaduna Abuja railway with an explosive & opened fire on the train, targeting the Engine Driver & the Tank.This morning, I was on board when our train ran over another explosive damaged rail track. It took a miracle for us to escape.
“They also opened fire, targeting the driver and the tank. It happened between Dutse and Rijana stations. The driver struggled to move towards Kaduna Rigasa station.
“This early morning, I was on board when our train ran over another explosive damaged railings. The train nearly skid off its track, then we miraculously escaped.
“All Kaduna Abuja train operations need to be suspended for today until this issue is addressed,” Sani on social media.