The Nigeria Railway Corporation has on Sunday January 8, 2023 announced the closure of Ekehen Station in Igueben, Edo State till further notice.
NRC said the decision became pertinent following the rising security challenges in the country.
Recall that gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, in the evening of Saturday January 7, abducted many passengers waiting to board a train from the Igueben station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State, while many others sustained injuries.
The incident happened barely one year after the March 28, 2022 attack by bandits on the Abuja-Kaduna train, resulting in the death of about 14 passengers while 65 others were abducted.
A public announcement by the NRC posted on the passengers’ WhatsApp Group, the train station has been closed till further notice.
The statement read; “Public Announcement: This is to inform our general public and most especially our esteemed passengers, that Ekehen Station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice.”
Another notice read; “Due to the incident at Ekehen station on Saturday, WITS 01/ 02 will no longer stop at Ekehen Station. Please advise our customers.”
The Spokesperson for Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident in a statement said the abductors, armed with AK 47, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air, making intending passengers and railway staff, scamper for safety. Thereafter, the armed men abducted scores of persons into the nearby bush.
Nwabuzor said many persons sustained bullet wounds caused by the scare but he assured that operatives are on the trail of the abductors, assuring citizens that those abducted will be rescued.
He said, “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that on January 7, 2023, at about 1600hrs, an unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK-47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped an unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.
“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of the crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.
“Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated.”
