A train conveying passengers from Abuja to Kaduna has been attacked by gunmen suspected to be bandits in Kaduna State.
Many passengers are feared injured while several others were said to have been kidnapped by the assailants.
Although the police authorities are yet to confirm the attack the incident happened on Monday night.
The bandits reportedly attacked the train around Dutse axis in Kaduna, just a few kilometres to the Rigasa Train Station in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
One of the passengers on the train said that the bandits bombed the train track with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which forced the train to derail.
Upon the stoppage of the train, the assailants were said to have begun to fire gunshots sporadically.
He added that the terrorists later forced their way into the train and kidnapped an unspecified number of people, with some others feared killed.
Meanwhile, troops have been mobilised to the scene of the attack to rescue the remaining passengers.
Another passenger on the train, Anas Danmusa, took to his Facebook handle to cry for help.
According to him, nobody could come to their rescue about one hour into the incident as the assailants tried to force their way into the train.
“Please this is an emergency. We are inside the train at the moment. Kidnapper’s planted explosives and the train engines have been ruined,” the passenger, identified as Anas Iro Danmusa, twitted from the train.
He added: “We are helpless on the Abuja to Kaduna train. Gunshots still being fired right around us. We are just under the seats praying to God while waiting for help. Since 8pm, we have been here, between Katari and Rijina. I am a living witness”.
In another message, the passenger announced the arrival of the security forces at the scene.
“Alhamdulillah! (Glory be to God!), the soldiers are with us. We are safe!!!” he twitted.
NRC Managing Director Fidet Okhiria said: “It is true but we don’t know the details yet.
“We cannot give you much information now but most of the passengers have gone into hiding and they cannot be giving information, but there are reports of gunshots, continued gunshots as the train stopped.
“If we have more details, we will get it across but I will be in Abuja tomorrow because of this incident.”
The former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani in multiple Tweets called on Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to confirm the incident.
“Train; @Official_NRC please confirm if everything is ok,”
Sani also said he has been trying to reach a number of passengers on the train without getting through to them.
He added that villagers who confirmed the incident said they heard multiple gunshots from afar in the forest.
“We have been trying to call the numbers of passengers in the Kaduna-Abuja train but it’s not connecting @Official_NRC.
“Villagers along Abuja-Kaduna road called to confirm hearing multiple gunshots and attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train by terrorists”.
