Nigeria was thrown into deep mourning on Monday, March 29, 2022, after the news of gunmen attack on Abuja-Kaduna passenger train.
The terrorists reportedly used explosives to blow up the rail track, causing the train to derail while they opened fire immediately, killing and abducting passengers.
More than 24hours after the incident, there has been no official statement on the number of passengers who were abducted, injured or killed on the ill-fated train.
It has, however, been revealed that a youth leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Amin Mahmoud, a medical doctor, Chinelo Nwando Megafu, secretary-general of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Barrister Musa Lawal-Ozigi, Farida Sule Mohammed, daughter of the national organising secretary of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Mallam Sule Mohammed, were among those who tragically died in the attack.
TUC chairman in Kwara state, Comrade Akinsola Akinwunmi, was reportedly among the dead victims, while Alwan Ali Hassan, the managing director of the Bank of the Agriculture (BoA), is reportedly missing after the Kaduna train attack.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has since suspended operations along the route till further notice.
It is sad that the rising insecurity in Nigeria has claimed too many promising lives. Killings and kidnapping for ransom have become commonplace across Nigeria. Just last Saturday, they attacked the Kaduna international airport –killing a security guard.
Until the ill-fated incident on Monday, Megafu had concluded plans to move to the United Kingdom to continue her medical career.
St Gerald’s Hospital Kaduna where she worked still has her name listed as one of the available physicians on its official website on Tuesday.
President Buhari on Tuesday met with service chiefs and heads of security agencies following the terror attack that left many dead and several injured.
During the meeting, Buhari received briefs from the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Faruk Yahaya, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao.
Others who attended the meeting at the State House include the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, as well as Major General Samuel Adebayo, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
Following the briefs, Buhari directed the immediate conclusion of all the processes for the implementation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution.