….21 passengers still missing
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that it has successfully rerailed seven out of the eleven coaches of the 6pm Abuja – Kaduna bound AK9 train which was bombed last week Monday by bandits between Rijana and Rigasa in Kaduna state just as 80 meters of the affected rail track has been repaired.
The corporation, in a statement on Sunday signed by its Managing Director and CEO Engr. F.E.Okhiria reiterated that about 172 passengers were onboard of the ill-fated train out of which 170 were confirmed safe, nine deaths recorded while some passengers sustained several degree of injuries and being are treated in several hospitals in Kaduna metropolis.“We confirmed that 4No. Coaches (SP 00004, SP00009, SP00012 and SP00013) out of the 11No. Coaches involved in the incident have been rerailed and safely moved to Rigasa Station while work in on-going on track repairs. We did also state that 170 of the Passengers on-board the train are safe while 21 Passengers are reported missing.
“At the end of work today’s evening (02/04/2022) the NRC’s restoration team has further rerailed four (4) more Coaches and two (2) of the coaches (SP 00007 and SP 00013) had been safely moved to Idu and Rigasa Stations respectively, the other two (2) Coaches are still at the site due to damaged tracks. This brings the total Coaches so far rerailed to 7 No. but only 5 No. successfully moved to the Stations. However, efforts are on to linked the track, at the moment, a total of 80 meters of the affected section has been fixed including replacement of affected Sleepers and twisted Rails.
“The Corporation also confirm updates that a total of 172 Passengers on board the AK9 are safe and okay while 21 Passengers are still reported missing. Let us assure our esteem passengers that the Corporation in collaboration with the Security agencies will leave no stone unturned in our efforts at rescuing the missing persons” the corporation said.
The managing Director condoled with those who lost loved ones and prayed for the repose of the lost souls. He sympathised and empathised with the injured Passengers and everyone on board for the trauma the unfortunate incident has caused.
Okhiria also expressed gratitude to Security Agencies (Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air force, Nigerian Police Force, Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corp) for support and cooperation just as he singled out the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for paying a surprise visit to the accident site.
