No fewer than seven coaches affected by the March 28, 2022 attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train attack have been re-railed, the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Edentalen Okhiria has said.
He also disclosed that besides, the re-railing the seven coaches, the management of the NRC has also replaced sleepers and twisted rails affected by the incident.
The NRC helmsman stated that the moves were aimed at restoring services on the route and to also brief the general public on current developments in the aftermath of the unfortunate incident.
In a statement personally signed by the NRC Managing Director and made available to Maritime Bits, Okhiria said: “we finds it incumbent to continue to update the general public on latest findings regarding the unfortunate incident of Bandit attack on AK9 on Monday 28th March 2022 and efforts at restoring the service”.
According to him, from the last press release, we confirmed that 4 No Coaches (SP 00004, SP 00009, SP00012 AND SP00013) out of the 11No. Coaches involved in the incident have been re-railed and safely moved to Rigasa Station while work is on-going on tack repairs. We did also stated that 170 of the passengers on-board the train are safe while 21 passengers are reported missing.
He explained that the NRC’s restoration team will continue to put efforts to re-rail more coaches, replace sleepers and twisted rails.
Okhiria revealed that so far, a total of 80 meters of the affected section has been fixed including replacement of affected sleepers and twisted rails.
The NRC also confirmed that additional more persons answered their calls, bringing to a total of 172 passengers on board the AK9 that ate safe and at home.
He revealed that no fewer than 21 passengers are still reported missing while repeated calls are being made to contact the remaining phone numbers on the manifest.
“Let us assure our esteem passengers and the general public that the corporation in collaboration with the security agencies will leave no stone unturned in our efforts are rescuing the missing persons”, he added.
While the corporation deeply condoles with those who lost loved ones and pray for the repose of the lost souls. We equally sincerely sympathize and empathize with our injured passengers and indeed everyone on board the AK9 train for the trauma this unfortunate incident has caused them.
He expressed gratitude to the security agencies for their support and co-operation so far, pointing out that this has indeed boosted the morale of personnel working in the affected area.
According to him, the NRC will continue to update the general public of developments to prevent misleading information and falsehood presently being peddled in certain quarters.
