Two months away from the anniversary of the terrorists attack on an Abuja-Kaduna passenger train, gunmen on Saturday kidnapped scores of passengers waiting to connect a train from Igueben station in Edo State to Warri, Delta State.
The Police command in Edo State confirmed the incident in which many others were said to have been injured.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Chidi Nwabuzor said that the abductors, armed with AK 47, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air before abducting scores of intending travellers, and fled with them into the bush.
The statement added that many of the passengers sustained bullet wounds, assuring that operatives were on the trail of the abductors with an aim to rescue those the kidnap victims herded into the bush.
The statement reads: “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th January 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped 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. Further developments will be communicated”.
Kidnappers have reportedly turned the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi-Abuja expressway into a no-go area, with huge ransoms being collected from families of victims, almost daily, while many of the victims died in the process in the den of the criminals. Travelers in the area had resorted to using the trains which are now targeted by the kidnappers.
The 28th March 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack resulted in the death of about 14 passengers and while 63 others were officially declared abducted. The passengers were released in batches.
