Politics
Kaduna Train Attack: Victims sue FG, demand compensation
- The victims of the Kaduna train attack have sued FG and demanded full compensation
- The federal government had announced the resumption of the Abuja -Kaduna train services after eight-months closure
The Kaduna train attack victims of March 28, which resulted in 63 kidnapped people being freed in batches over nearly two months, are suing the Federal Government for compensation to rebuild their lives.
Their request comes barely a day after the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), which had ceased operations for eight months after an attack that left nine passengers dead, restored train service on the Kaduna-Abuja route.
But while the victims were in the care of the terrorists who seized them during the train attack, they regretted that most of them had lost their means of support.
“So, many of us have lost what we are doing and our source of income. As a citizen of this country, which I am very proud to be, I am expecting more from them (the government),” said one of the victims Mariam Idris. “I am expecting them to come to our aid.”
Additionally, they assert that the Federal Government has not yet followed through on the promises it made to them shortly after they met with President Muhammadu Buhari following their release in October, noting that the majority of them already have psychological and depressive disorders that necessitate immediate medical attention.
READ ALSO: Why the sudden increase in the Abuja-Kaduna Train fare
“Actually, they did collect our contacts that they would get back to us. But till now, nobody has said anything,” Mariam added.
“We are just living by His mercy because as of the time our family members realized ourselves in this mess, they have gone through difficulties – let’s be sincere.”
Mariam‘s tale is not different from that of Bala Mohammed who said “nobody gave us a single kobo” even when some of them are having health challenges.
“The health challenge we are facing now is very critical,” he added.
While he thanked the Federal Government for rescuing them, Mr Bala is asking for more.
“Our demand is that the Federal Government should come to our rescue because the trauma we are facing now is very critical,” he said. “We don’t have money to go to the hospital to take care of our health.”
Meanwhile, there was a low turnout of passengers at Idu train station following the resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna train service on Monday.
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation had announced the resumption of the Abuja -Kaduna train services on Monday, 5th December 2022 after Eight months of suspension of the Abuja -Kaduna train services due to a terrorist attack.
RNN has earlier reported that as of 10 am, there was a low turnout of passengers at Idu train station but passengers were well orderly in the queue as armed police and other security officers were seen stationed around the premises.
Passengers accompanied by their friends and families were seen carrying luggage and moving toward the ticket hall to obtain boarding tickets for the first train scheduled to take off from Abuja to Rigasa in Kaduna by 9:45 am.
She said she was the first to arrive at the train station and should be given a Business class ticket as a reward.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: FG announces resumption of Abuja-Kaduna train services
She said she used the online app to book the train and she didn’t experience any hitches so far.
Also, another passenger Unanah John said he had issues with the National Identification Number (NIN) because he bought a ticket through the app with his Glo line and his NIN line was registered with his MTN line.
He said one is not allowed to change the number on the app which is what he was trying to sort out.
Also, the Deputy Director of Operations, Nigerian Railway Cooperation (NRC), Akin Osinowo explained that the resumption of the train service was delayed because the Federal Ministry of Transportation needed to guarantee the safety of passengers.
In his words “I think we have gotten to that point now which is why we are resuming today, we have gone through a lot of background painstaking work in terms of security.
“Right now the service has eyes and ears throughout the corridor and throughout the stations and our rail lines are well protected, we maintain communication with our train every single time it is moving. We have a huge level of confidence.
“On the increase in fares, it is a worldwide phenomenon, diesel, for instance, has gone up by 300-400percent, also the cost of running the service has gone up.
“Nevertheless, the service remains competitive when you look at the comfort and the safety among others even at that service is heavily subsidized by the government.
“We are just opening after a long time and we are putting in place a lot of protocols, security systems, operating systems, a lot of technology among others and we want to make sure they are working well to guarantee and protect the lives of passengers.
“We know it will take some time for passengers to believe in us again but we hope to increase our services during the festive period,” he said.