Gunmen Attack Abuja-Kaduna Train Passengers, Kidnap Some

Some gunmen on Saturday reportedly attacked vehicles conveying travellers from the Kaduna train station at Rigasa in the Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the incident happened when the passengers alighted from the train which arrived from Abuja at about 8pm.

Some of the passengers attacked were said to have sustained injuries while several others were kidnapped by the gunmen, who were said to be in their large numbers.

It was also learnt that a similar incident took place around the area when passengers passing through the link road linking the train station to the airport road junction, were attacked. But it was learnt that they were repelled by military personnel attached to the train station.

A source said families of those kidnapped had been contacted by the kidnappers and demanded N20m ransom before the abductees could be set free.

 One of the victims of the attack as of the time of filing this report was reported to be in a critical condition at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, located in the heart of the city.

 A competent source told our correspondent that the only person kidnapped in the Friday night incident was a diabetic patient (a woman) and was allegedly  thrown into a river not too far from the scene of the attack.

 “Then, on Saturday, three people were kidnapped by the bandits,” he added.

 Meanwhile, there was panic in the state on Monday, following  a social media reports that bandits were gathering at Maguzawa village, Rigasa.

 The village is located about seven kilometres away from Rigasa.

 It was learnt that the bandits were allegedly responsible for the Friday night attack around the Rigasa Train Station and the Saturday night attack at the same location where a few people were kidnapped.

 It was gathered that they met at the Maguzawa Primary School last night before attacking citizens on Rigasa, Link Road just after disembarking from the train.

 The bandits were said to be under the leadership of a commander named ‘Bardinge’ who was said to have arrived the Maguzawa general area about six days ago.

 It was gathered that the plan of the bandits was to attack and kidnap citizens within the Rigasa Train Station or to open fire at train at the train station.

 The Kaduna Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, had yet to confirm the incident as call and text message to his phone were not answered.