Security agencies are still working to ensure the rescue and release of 162 passengers still missing or abducted by bandits on the ill-fated Kaduna bound AK9 train on Monday, March 28, 2022, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Engr. Fidet Okhiria has said.
Okhiria who made this known in the eighth update on the incident issued on Thursday, however said, the status of the 362 passengers and 20 Train Crew on board the train remains the same as what obtains since its sixth update issued on April 5, 2022.
According to the update, the number of passengers missing is 163. However, the same day, the bandits released the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), Alhaji Alwan Ali-Hassan one of the abductees, on compassionate ground, and in the spirit of Ramadan, leaving 162 persons yet to be accounted for.
A breakdown of the sixth update according to Okhiria had stated that; 46 of those still missing had their phones switched off or not reachable, 33 others had their phone numbers ringing, but not being picked, while 62 others’ phones were said to be non-existent and 22 were reported missing by families.
This is besides the eight people confirmed dead and 20 crew members on board the train.
A total of 199 passengers are said to have been reunited with their families.
While sympathizing with families of those who lost their loved one or those still missing, Okhiria urged anyone still looking for their loved to contact the numbers: Funmi: 08033546208; Halidu: 08060044600 or Hanatu: 07066700150, even as he disclosed that the process of linking passengers profile to their National identification Number (NIN) for improved profiling of the victims will begin next month.
Addressing the ongoing re-railing exercise, the NRC chief said the corporation has completed the rehabilitation of the bombed rail track.
With the exercise which he said was completed yesterday, the corporation has re-railed all the 14 derailed rolling stock to its Idu (Abuja) and Rigasa Stations (Kaduna).
“Intensive track repair works continues at site and an advanced level of track repairs has been achieved and hopefully to be rounded off within 10 days,” Okhiria said.
He said the Abuja -Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) will resume as soon as possible with additional security measures put in place.
“The NRC expresses its profound gratitude to the security agencies for the continued support, especially for the security cover availed our officials and staff at the incident site and the corporation will continue to update the general public of latest developments,” the corporation chief stated.