Abuja-Kaduna train service to start soon —Minister

The Federal Ministry of Transportation has said that the Abuja-Kaduna train services will commence operations ‘soon’ after terror attacks that led to kidnap of many of its passengers.

Coming barely 48 hours after the 23 remaining victims were released by the terrorists, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, made this known on Friday while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

Ripples Nigeria had earlier reported that some unknown insurgents had attacked Abuja-Kaduna train passengers on March 28, 2022, abducted 168 passengers and shot dead eight other passengers.

But the release of the victims has been in batches since then, with the last 23 being the last to be released recently.

In his reaction to questions as to when the train services would resume operations, Sambo noted that it would have been so insensitive to begin operations knowing full well that both the victims and their relatives were going through trauma.

Read also: Buhari commends military over release of Abuja-Kaduna train passengers

The Transportation minister added that to resume train services, some security steps had to be taken to forestall a recurrence, saying that these measures included long- and short-term plans.

The minister insisted that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the victims, noting that the government would not support the payment of ransom.

By Mohammed Taoheed…

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now