Following attacks on Ekehen rail station located in Edo State, the Nigeria Railway Corporation has on Sunday closed it down till further notice, saying the decision became necessary following rising security challenges.
A public announcement by the NRC posted on the passengers’ WhatsApp Group and was obtained the newsmen has it that the closure was till further notice.
The statement reads, “Public Announcement: This is to inform our general public and most especially our esteemed passengers, that Ekehen Station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice.”
Another notice reads, “Due to the incident at Ekehen station on Saturday, WITS 01/ 02 will no longer stop at Ekehen Station. Please advise our customers.”
The Informant247 reported that gunmen were on Saturday evening attacked and kidnapped train passengers while many of the travellers were also injured in the attack, barely a year after Kaduna train attack.
Chidi Nwabuzor, the Edo Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said that the abductors, who were armed with AK 47, attacked the train station, while shooting sporadically into the air before kidnapping scores of intending travellers into the bush, while adding that many of the train passengers sustained bullet wounds.
The statement read, “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 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 kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.
“Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated”.