The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the indefinite suspension of the proposed resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Services (AKTS) following pressure from the families of abducted victims. Recall that the NRC immediately suspended train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route following an attack by armed bandits on March 28, 2022, where about 50 passengers were kidnapped.
The Corporation, however, recently announced that the AKTS would resume operations on May 23, 2022, but relatives of the abducted victims threatened to disrupt operations.
The NRC released a statement on Friday disclosing that it has postponed its planned resumption of train operation along the Abuja-Kaduna route.
According to the statement, “The NRC will continue to cooperate and collaborate with the Federal Government in its uncompromising mandate of protecting the territorial integrity and the internal security of Nigeria for safeguarding the lives and properties of its citizens especially as it concerns the rail sub-sector.
“In the same vein, we once again identify with the relatives of those in captivity on the account of the recent attack on AKTS to rest assured that the Federal Government is alive to its responsibility for the safe rescue of all persons being held, hostage.
“We, therefore, appeal particularly to the relatives of persons held hostage to be patient and cooperate with the Corporation and the security agencies as the Federal Government is exploring all possible ways and means to ensure the safe release of their loved ones from captivity, soonest. The NRC expresses its profound gratitude to the security agencies for the continued support”.