Helicopters Providing Aerial Support For Abuja–Kaduna Train Passengers – Police
The statement also disclosed that the Nigeria Police have apprehended the masterminds of the tragic Abuja–Kaduna train attack in Katari, Kaduna State, on March 28, 2022, when some passengers lost their lives and several were abducted.
Among those arrested is Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as Mande, who confessed to leading a kidnapping syndicate operating along the Kaduna – Abuja Highway. Additionally, two other suspects, Auwal Ayuba and Babaginda Alhaji Bello, were presented by the police as members of the armed group responsible for the attack on the Abuja-bound train in Kaduna two years ago.
“One of the major cases is the arrest of one Ibrahim Abdullahi, aka MANDE at Abuja – Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction. The suspect confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorising Kaduna – Abuja highway, ranked among other criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji. He had participated in various kidnapping incidents including the kidnapping incident at Green Field University and he partook in almost all the kidnappings along the Abuja – Kaduna highway.
“Similarly, from the confessional statements of the suspects, on 28th of March, 2022, Ibrahim, alongside one Auwal Ayuba who was also paraded for kidnapping, and one Babangida Alhaji Bello were part of the armed group that attacked the train on its way from Abuja in the Kateri – Rijana area of Kaduna state, with several persons killed and others abducted.”
What you should know
In recent years, the Abuja – Kaduna Expressway and train tracks have experienced numerous violent crimes, leading the police to implement measures to maintain security on that corridor.
One of the most notable incidents of violent crime on this route occurred on March 28, 2022, when an Abuja-bound train was attacked around 7:45 pm at Kateri – Rijana in Kaduna, resulting in the death of some passengers and the kidnapping of hundreds of others.
A similar major event took place on October 21, 2021, when bandits detonated explosives on the Abuja – Kaduna train track and fired live rounds into the driver compartments, leaving passengers traumatized.
On both occasions, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) suspended operations on the Abuja – Kaduna train route.
With 2.18 million passengers transported by NRC trains in 2023, ensuring security on major train routes across the country would provide relief for operators and passengers alike, making train travel an attractive option for interstate journeys, analysts say.
