Some men described as herdsmen by the Police have reportedly invaded the train station in Igueben, headquarters of Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State and kidnapped passengers waiting to board train to Warri, Delta State.
It is not clear why the Police opted to call the attackers herdsmen and not terrorists or bandits, but details were sketchy from residents of the town at press time.
In a statement, the Edo State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said on Saturday night: “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of Herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.
“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 crime with members of Edo State Security Network, local vigilante, and hunter 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 development will be communicated.”
Coming nearly 10 months after a moving train was attacked on Abuja-Kaduna rail line, there are fears this is another ransom for freedom venture by terrorists in the southern flank of the country.
Recall that at least eight passengers were killed on March 28 when terrorists struck the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train, while manywere abducted. It is estimated that billions of Naira were paid to terrorists. An online newspaper publisher and spokesperson to a prominent Kaduna-based cleric, Tukur Mamu, was arrested for his alleged role in the fiasco, but months later, he has not been physically brought before a court of law.
Late November the State Security Service (SSS), withdrew a suit it filed to obtain court’s approval for his further detention for 60 more days after his arrest.
He was arrested in September after series of negotiations he carried out for the release of some of the victims of the Kaduna train abduction.
He was picked up by Interpol in Cairo, Egypt, on 6 September, while SSS raided his Kaduna residence and office. The SSS claimed that it recovered military uniforms and an amount of money during the raid.
It alleged that the investigation established act of terrorism financing against the former terrorists’ negotiator.
The security agency’s words, “The self-acclaimed Kaduna train negotiator exploits the opportunity to perpetrate, aid and abets as well as render support to both local and international terrorist organisations.”
The SSS, in a statement by its spokesperson, Peter Afunaya, asked the public to leave the agency alone and allow it to concentrate on the investigations which it said the outcomes had been “mindboggling.”