.Deputy Gov visits station, one victim regains freedom
..Security agencies, vigilante, local hunters comb bushes
.Atiku, Okowa express concern over attack
The Ekehen Station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State has been closed indefinitely by the Nigerian Railway Cooperation (NRC), after gunmen attacked the train station.
This was announced in a public announcement by the NRC which was posted on the passengers’ WhatsApp Group and obtained by the media. It stated that the decision became necessary following rising security challenges.
The statement reads, “Public Announcement: This is to inform the general public and most especially our esteemed passengers, that Ekehen Station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice.”
Another notice reads, “Due to the incident at Ekehen station on Saturday, WITS 01/ 02 will no longer stop at Ekehen Station. Please advise our customers.”
It was reported that several passengers were abducted from the train station on Saturday.
It was learnt that the gunmen attacked the victims while they were waiting to board a train to Warri in Delta State.
The police in Edo State earlier confirmed that several passengers were abducted from the train station.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Chidi Nwabuzor, in a statement said it was unclear if anyone was killed in the incident but that some travellers sustained gunshot wounds.
He said the abductors, armed with AK 47s, invaded the train station on Saturday evening and shot sporadically into the air before abducting scores of intending travellers.
He said, “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, men armed with AK 47 rifles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped an unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.
“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.”
“Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers.
Meanwhile, Thirty-one intending passengers have been confirmed missing after gunmen invaded Igueben train station in Edo State on Saturday.
Edo State Commissioner of Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, on Sunday told reporters that one abducted passenger escaped from the kidnappers, while the police had arrested one of the suspects.
The passengers were waiting at the station for the 4 p.m. train from Igueben to Warri when the gunmen struck, shooting sporadically, abducting passengers and leaving many injured.
“The kidnap is the most difficult occurrence in the state currently. Few armed men who came with vehicles at about 4 p.m. started shooting sporadically at the Igueben train station,” Nehikhare said.
He said: “After 32 persons were kidnapped, the Police, vigilante, and local hunters swung into action, combing the bushes around the vicinity. One of the kidnapped victims was able to escape.”
Nehikhare noted, “The Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has visited the scene of the attack for on-the-spot assessment and was told that one of the suspects was arrested and he has been helping the police with investigation to arrest other fleeing members of the kidnapping gang.
“We congratulate the Police and other security agencies for their swiftness in attending to the security brief. We appreciate the local hunters and members of the Edo State Security Network as their collaboration assisted in this operation. This synergy led to the success recorded in a very short time.”
“We hope this is the last time we will have such an attack on government infrastructure, especially train stations here in Edo State. Our security network was swift to react to the incident and we condole the families of victims. We will give necessary support to the security agencies, vigilantes and local hunters who are on the trail of these kidnappers,” he added.
Also, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the recent attack on a train station in Igueben LGA of Edo State during which an undetermined number of people were kidnapped by armed men.
A press release signed by the Atiku Media Office on Sunday noted that the unfortunate incident “is the latest in a long condemnable line of security breaches previously unseen in our national history.”
While condoling with victims of the attack and their families, the foremost presidential contestant said, “the thoughts of my family and I are with the abducted and their families as we pray for their safe return.”
He remarked further that, “while we pray, it is important to also point out that this serves as the latest reminder on the urgent need to reform our security architecture to better safeguard the lives and properties of the Nigerian citizens.”
The former Vice President enunciate means through which national security could be enhanced to include, amending our constitution to allow for state and community policing as a first line of security.
He also noted that our security apparatus must pay a greater premium to intelligence gathering and crime prevention than our current reactive approach.
“It is unacceptable for terrorists to plan attacks of this nature, mobilize arms and ammunition, secure funding and move large numbers of people across large spaces without detection by the security agencies,” he said.
He noted the use of technology towards tracking these terrorists and degrading their existing capacity to attack our people across the country.”
Furthermore, the PDP presidential candidate advocates “applying diplomatic pressures needed to stem the free flow of light arms and assault weapons across the West African sub-region and through our borders.
“By doing this we will severely restrict the capacity for terrorists to re-arm themselves to execute attacks.
Atiku said these policy proposals should be followed by “greatly reducing the numbers of out of school children on our streets and improving the economy to create jobs for vast numbers of unemployed Nigerians, thereby reducing the pool from which these terrorists recruit people for their nefarious activities.”
According to him, “I believe these actions will go a long way towards reducing incidents of insecurity and providing the secure environment needed for economic growth.”
He noted that he shall commit to implementing these initiatives if Nigerians trust him with their mandate and elect him as president at the election next month.
Similarly, Governor of Delta and Vice-Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has described as “very sad and unfortunate”, Saturday’s attack and kidnap of passengers by gunmen at a train sub-station in Igueben, Edo State.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba on Sunday, Okowa deplored the incident, and said that activities of gunmen across the country had remained a disturbing phenomenon.
He called on security agencies to track the attackers of the train station and rescue the victims.
The vice-presidential candidate also charged Nigerians to rise to the occasion and assist security agencies with relevant information to enable them police the country effectively.
He urged the Federal Government to drop its lethargic attitude and cosmetic approach toward fighting insecurity in the country, saying that the government should stop toying with the lives of citizens.
“As a country we must be deeply concerned about the activities of armed groups and non-state actors trying to destabilise our nation.
”With the general elections a few weeks away, this dastardly act is not just worrisome but condmenable, and we urge security agencies to quickly track and apprehend the gunmen and rescue the victims.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I sympathise with the authorities of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and families of the kidnapped intending passengers at the train station.
”Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this difficult time and we pray for the early return of the victims to reunite with their families,” Okowa stated.
