Abuja-Kaduna train attack: A disaster that could have been avoided

In the annals of Nigeria’s history; we have never had it this bad. It is true that since the inception of democratic government in Nigeria, we have always had one issue or the other to battle with as a nation of over 213 million, yet it has never been this terrible.
Under the present administration, the issue of insecurity has grown from bad to worse. Today, insecurity is threatening the foundation of our existence as a nation. And not only that, the vicious cycle of poverty now engulfs the masses to a level of suffocation.
With over N12 trillion in defence budgets in the last seven years, insecurity has become a hydra-headed monster difficult to tame or control. We have seen many cases where those saddled with the responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of the people have been kidnapped and ransom paid.
Today, there is nowhere that is safe in Nigeria. Terrorists and bandits have even attacked defence formations with little or no resistance. For some years now Kaduna-Abuja road has become the most dangerous road in Nigeria due to activities of kidnappers and bandits who usually operate on the road.
While many have been killed on this road, many have been kidnapped and ransom paid by the families of the victims. The road became deserted when travellers found the alternative of using a train which they believed would be safer. But today, the reality on everyone’s face is that not even the train could provide safety to anyone on board.
The last month attack on a Kaduna-bound passenger train by bandits is an indication that Nigerians are not safe anywhere in the country.
The attack on the train, which had on board over 300 passengers, was the most fatal attack on the train coming after three previous attempts on the service.
At the end of the attack, eight people were killed, while over 20 others sustained injuries from gunshots and stampede. Many other passengers were also abducted by the bandits.
In what appeared like a mockery of our very existential reality as a Nation, report came out after the attack that there had been existence of many intelligence reports warning of a planned attack by terrorists.
The Kaduna State Security Council and the leadership of the 1 Division Nigerian Army headquarters were said to have separately requested the Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC) to suspend the late-hour shuttle between the two cities, an advisory that was said to have been ignored.
The Managing Director of the NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria also confirmed that the NRC was written to stop the evening train.
He said, “They wrote to us that they suspected that they wanted to attack the train but that was in December/January. But we looked at it and said if there is something like that, they should find a solution to it and stopping the train is not the solution.”
“And we don’t run the night train. The last train leaves in the evening. We believe if we stop the running of trains, it means the terrorists have won.”
The trains are often provided with security from the police through its Railway Command.
However, when contacted over the claim, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said they were not aware of any security report.
While speaking on the attack, the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi said that the unfortunate event could have been avoided if N3billion digital security equipment had been acquired.
According to him, it will take more than N3 billion to replace what has been lost to the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna rail route.
“We knew what the problem would be. We knew we needed to have digital security equipment. We applied for it. Because if we had those equipment, you would see nobody on that track. And I warned that lives will be lost. Now, lives are lost. Eight persons dead, 25 persons in the hospital.
“We don’t know how many people have been kidnapped. And the cost of that equipment is just N3 billion. The cost of what we’ve lost is more than N3 billion. We’ve lost tracks; we’ve lost locomotives and coaches. We’ve lost human beings. And the equipment is just N3 billion, Amaechi was quoted to have said.
In saner climes, regardless of who is involved heads must have rolled by now but reverse is the case in Nigeria. Those in charge must have been held responsible for their actions or inactions. If the intelligence report was acted on, the disaster that cost the lives of innocent Nigerians and properties of the Nation could have been avoided. While the death of innocent Nigerians and those kidnapped in the train attack is regrettable, Nigeria can only become better if those at the helm of authority are held responsible for their actions or inactions