The planned resumption of train services between Abuja and Kaduna on Monday, May 23, has been suspended indefinitely, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced on Friday.
NRC was forced to halt services along the corridor following an attack on its train on March 28 by terrorists, who kidnapped some passengers, killed eight, and wounded about 23.
Plans by the Corporation to resume services on that route have attracted criticism from families of about 67 of the passengers who are still in captivity. Relations of the captives say it will be insensitive for NRC to resume services while their kit and kin are holed up in the terrorists’ camp.
Mr. Mahmud Yakub, the spokesman of the Corporation, said in a statement on Friday that a new date would be announced: “soonest.”
NRC apologised for the delay in the resumption of the service while assuring the victims’ families that it was working very hard to ensure the rescue of their loved ones.
“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,” the statement said.
“In the same vein, we once again identify with the relatives of those in captivity on 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.”
