The Nigerian Railway Corporation has declared that train services between Abuja and Kaduna will be delayed.
The news was hailed by the abductees’ families, who encouraged the federal government to speed up its rescue attempts.
In a statement issued on Friday, the NRC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Yakub Mahmood, announced the suspension of the Abuja-Kaduna train service resume.
The statement read in part, “Sequel to our earlier Press Release No. 10 dated May 16, 2022 on the above caption, the General Public is kindly invited to note the Nigerian Railway Corporation is announcing a shift in the resumption date for Abuja Kaduna Train services. The Corporation apologizes for the delays in the resumption of the service. A new date will be announced soonest.”
This postponement came after families of kidnapped the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers vowed to picket train stations in Abuja and Kaduna over the planned resumption of activities on the axis.
In a PUNCH report, the spokesperson for the families, Idayat Yusuf, had said the NRC should not dare the families of those abducted by resuming operations in the Abuja-Kaduna train station.
In the latest statement, the NRC said it would continue to cooperate with the Federal Government to ensure security in the railway sector.
The commission also assured the relatives of those in captivity on the account of the attack on AKTS that the Federal Government will ensure the safe rescue of all persons being held, hostage.
Meanwhile, families and friends of the victims of the kidnapped Abuja-Kaduna train passengers have welcomed the suspension of the planned train service along the route by the NRC.
They said the development was good for the country, arguing that there should be no train services along the Abuja-Kaduna route until the abductees were rescued.
The Chairman of the victims’ families, Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh, conveyed the message of the kidnapped families to Saturday PUNCH in Kaduna on Friday.
Jimoh said, “We are happy that one of the demands (prayers) has been met. We are happy about the development.
“Our next call is for the Federal Government to hasten the rescue of our beloved ones unhurt.”
PUNCH
