Months after terrorists attacked and kidnapped scores of passengers on board Kaduna-bound train, another set of gunmen invaded a train station in Nigeria’s Niger-Delta region and whisked away many passengers.
The commuters waiting to board a train from Igueben in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State were kidnapped, while others escaped with gunshot injuries.
Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, a Superintendent of Police (SP), confirmed the incident last night.
This is coming five months after the last batch of victims on the Abuja-Kaduna train service were released.
While the Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the attack, the number of passengers abducted by the gun-wielding terrorists was yet to be ascertained as at press time.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Edo State command, Mr. Chidi Nwabuzor, informed that the police have launched a scrupulous operation to comb the bush to, primarily, rescue the victims and return them safely to their families, as well as arrest the fleeing gunmen.
Nwabuzor added that the kidnappers shot repeatedly into the air before abducting some passengers, leaving some persons with bullet wounds.
The statement reads: “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, January 7, 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 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 protect the lives and property of the remaining passengers”.