The train driver, food vendors, and several railway workers were among the many reportedly killed in the Kaduna-bound train attacked by bandits on Monday night.
The gunmen blew up the rail track which derailed the train before launching an attack on the passengers.
According to sources, the gunmen were said to have gone straight for the VIP coaches on getting into the train where unspecified number of passengers were said to have been injured and some others reportedly taken away.
“The attackers went for the VIP coaches,” one of the sources said.
“Some persons were abducted and several others with injuries.”
“Lots of railway staff are missing. Their bodies were not found among the dead and their whereabouts unknown,” another passenger said.
Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna state commissioner for internal security and home affairs, in an update on Tuesday, said the evacuation of trapped train passengers has been concluded.
He also confirmed that fatalities were recorded and victims moved to hospitals.
He said, “Evacuation of passengers on the trapped Kaduna-bound train from Abuja has been concluded this morning by security forces, officials of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and Nigerian Red Cross.”
“Passengers who sustained injuries, and other fatalities, have been moved to hospitals.
“The passengers were evacuated from different hard-to-reach areas in forests and rocky locations in Audujongom, off the Kaduna-Abuja Road.
“As stated yesterday, the Kaduna State Government is still liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to ascertain the list from the passengers manifest for efficient tracking.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai who commended all those who participated in the evacuation appealed to the hospitals to attend to the victims diligently.”
According to the commissioner, governor El rufai also directed the ministry of health to be in contact with the hospitals as it will bear the cost of the victims’ treatment while the search and rescue operations are still ongoing.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has since suspended train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route.
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