By Femi Oyelola
It is over 369 days that terrorists attacked a Kaduna bound train from Abuja at Katari with 398 passengers on board. The sad event led to the death of nine passengers and the abduction of over 60 others.
The incident shook the nation to its foundation, and one full year after for many is just like yesterday. Many families and friends of the victims, both dead and alive have not come to terms with the reality of what actually happened at Katari on March 28, 2022.
The incident, perhaps, remains one of the most devastating of all the attacks by bandits across the country. And what made it remarkably different and also most gruesome was the fact that, unlike other attacks, instant deaths were recorded and a huge number of VIPs were involved.
Besides, it took government much of negotiations before the victims who were fortunate to have escaped death in the attack were set free. From all indications, the train attack and the prolonged detention of the abducted passengers in the custody of the criminals appeared to many to have exposed much of the perceived weaknesses in the national security architecture.
A sad reminder of the heinous incident was the disclosure in his anniversary statement by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, that some survivors of the train attack were yet to pick up at least 16 of their bags, one full year after.
He said between April and November 2022, 62 persons (victims of the attack or their relatives) came forward to claim 94 items of luggage containing a range of personal effects.
Aruwan recalled that on March 28, 2022, terrorists planted explosive devices along the rail track and when the Abuja-Kaduna bound AK-9 passenger train approached the point, the device exploded, causing the train to derail.
The unfortunate incident killed eight passengers while the terrorists kidnapped others, he recalled.
The commissioner detailed that the state retrieved some items ranging from certificates, documents, passports, car and house keys, cash, ATM cards, mobile phones, tablets, laptops and their accessories, books, perfumes, clothing, and clothing jewellery belonging to the victims.
“16 bags, along with an assortment of loose belongings, including prayer mats, booking and clothing items, belonging to the victims remained unclaimed”, he added.
According to him, Kaduna State would continue to maintain detailed records of all items collected, including the contact details of victims or their representatives while adding that “the window is still open for the collection of the remaining items at the ministry.”
He narrated thus:“Exactly one year ago, on the 28th of March 2022, a horrendous attack was launched by terrorists on the Kaduna-bound train from Abuja.
“The terrorists derailed the train at around 7 pm by setting off an Improvised Explosive Device to blow up a section of the track.
“They then opened fire on the coaches and kidnapped scores of passengers from the train.
“In the heat of the confusion, a terrified passenger finally alerted the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs on the exact location of the train, which was traced to Kasarami-Audujongom general area of Chikun LGA.
“Immediately, Major General KI Mukhtar, the then GOC 1 Division and Brigadier General UT Upuene, then Garrison Commander moved with their brave troops to secure the train and rescue the remaining passengers.”
The train service was immediately suspended by the federal government following the attack which security agents believed was masterminded by the dreaded Boko Haram.
This crippled many businesses, triggering devastating socio-economic conditions for many Nigerians whose means of livelihood are solely dependent on the train services.
However the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, resumed Abuja-Kaduna passenger train service on the 28th November, 2022, eight months after the attack amidst tight security arrangements.
It was disclosed that the federal government overhauled the security architecture, along the Kaduna -Abujay train services to protect lives of passengers and the infrastructure of the Coporation
The government also incorporated passengers’ profiling in ticketing, with the use of machine-assisted verification of their information.
Similarly, security at the nine sub-stations which the train plies has been beefed up with military personnel, while the train now has cameras and other communication devices fitted in the coaches.
Given credence to this, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, in December 2022 ordered the deployment of police operatives to the Abuja-Kaduna train route.
The deployment according to the force public relations officer Olumiyiwa Adejobi, was drawn from operatives of the Police Mobile Force, K-9, Force Intelligence Bureau, Explosive Ordnance Unit and Railway Police Command.
However, many Kaduna state residents still have a lukewarm attitude towards patronising the train services as the gruesome attack and abductions still linger in their minds. According to them, the horrendous experiences of the abductees is not something anybody would like to wish even for his enemies.
A passenger Aliyu Mohammed a Civil Servant said he still travels by Abuja-Kaduna train not because of the assurances of security deployment, but because he trusted in Allah for his safety.
Mohammed also said he will continue to use the services of the NRC not minding the security challenges, even though he pleaded for robust security coverage for the train services.
Madam Linda Markus a Civil Society activist in Kaduna opined that it is not easy to erase the incident of 28 March 2022 from the memory of Nigerians.
Madam Linda said she stopped using the train services after the unfortunate incident, but her major reason is that the long distance of the station, which is in Rigasa in Igabi LGA to her house in Mahuta Chikun LGA. She added that for many other residents of Kaduna, the attack is the key factor for their not patronising the train services.
Surprise! The family members of some of the victims of the attack are not willing to talk about the incident. A member of the Families of the kidnapped Victims Committee, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim said the job of the committee has been concluded after the rescue of the the last kidnapped victims from the terrorists dens. Recall that it took pressures from this committee to force government into stepping up efforts to ensure the victims’ release.
But a relation who will not want his name on print said he missed his sister a medical doctor who lost her life during the attack. That was also she could mutter as tears began to well on her eyes.
A former Senator representing Kaduna Central in the Upper Chamber, Senator Shehu Sani, called for prayers for the soul of those who lost their lives during the attack.
In his Facebook page Shehu Sani said it was just like yesterday and he still can’t believe 369 days had gone down the lane since the attack.
All said and done 28th March, 2022 will be remembered as a day that terrorists dared the security architecture of the country and it will certainly take time for the damage and the injury inflicted especially on the psyche of Nigerians by the terrorist attack to heal.
