Train Attack: Additional 14 Missing Passengers Found Alive — NRC

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) yesterday said 14 of the 21 abducted passengers on board the Abuja-Kaduna train on the standard gauge rail have been found alive.

Its Managing Director, Mr Fidet Okhiria, gave an update on the March 28 attack by terrorists at the Kateri-Rijana area of Kaduna State.

He said 362 validated passengers were on board the attacked AK9 train service.

It was not clear whether the abducted family of six and the Managing Director of the Bank of the Agriculture (BoA), Alwan Ali Hassan, were among those found.

There were also doubts yesterday on whether the train and the passengers were insured.

Okhiria told newsmen that the train was insured, but he did not provide details on the company and how much will be paid as compensation to victims.

“No fewer than 186 persons on the manifest are confirmed to be safe and at their various homes with additional 14 persons confirmed safe today (yesterday).

“Also, 51 phone numbers on the manifest are either switched off or not reachable since Tuesday morning.

“A total of 35 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing but no response from the other end.

“Another 60 phone numbers on the manifest when called respond non-existent.

“A total of 22 persons are reported missing by their relatives while eight persons are confirmed dead.

“Two coaches (SP 00016 and SP 00017) earlier re-railed were safely moved to Rigasa station, bringing the total number of recovered coaches safely moved to NRC stations to seven,” Okhiria said.

According to him, intensive work continues on track repairs, adding that more concrete sleepers were moved to the site while some sections of the twisted tracks had been straightened.