A train conveying passengers from Abuja to Kaduna has been attacked by gunmen suspected to be bandits in Kaduna State.
Many passengers are feared injured while several others were said to have been kidnapped by the assailants.
Although the police authorities are yet to confirm the attack, which happened on Monday night.
The bandits reportedly attacked the train around Dutse axis in Kaduna, just a few kilometres to the Rigasa Train Station in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
One of the passengers on the train told Channels Television that the bandits bombed the train track with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which forced the train to derail.
Upon the stoppage of the train, the assailants were said to have begun to fire gunshots sporadically.
He added that the terrorists later forced their way into the train and kidnapped an unspecified number of people, with some others feared killed.
Meanwhile, troops have been mobilised to the scene of the attack to rescue the remaining passengers.
Another passenger on the train, Anas Danmusa, took to his Facebook handle to cry for help.
According to him, nobody could come to their rescue about one hour into the incident as the assailants tried to force their way into the train.
After about 20 minutes later, Danmusa confirmed that army personnel have arrived at the scene of the attack.
However, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Cooperation, Fidet Okhiria, confirmed the incident.
Okhiria however told the News Agency of Nigeria that “information concerning the attack was still sketchy, and no concrete information could be given at the moment.”
“We have confirmed the attack, but we cannot give you much information right now.
“From the reports we have gotten, most of the passengers have gone into hiding and the officials on board are yet to give us a report of the situation.
”There are reports of gunshots and the train derailed due to the attack,” Okhiria said.
NAN gathered that the incident happened between Katari and Rijana train stations, en route Kaduna from Abuja.
Channels TV
