By our reporters
Former Zamfara State’s Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala , is among high profile casualties of last night’s attack on Abuja-Kaduna train, which resulted in loss of lives and injuries among the passengers.
There are mounting concerns over the whereabouts of the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture Alwan Hassan whose family sources said he was on the train.
SAHELIAN TIMES reliably gathered that Wakkala was shot in the leg by the terrorists who attacked the train and he has been hospitalized in Kaduna where he is expected to be operated upon this afternoon.
Among the casualties of the incident are said to be the driver of the train, cleaners on board and several passengers.
Disturbing videos of what appear to be casualties inside coaches of the Abuja-Kaduna train trapped by terrorists, started circulating on social medial last night even when Kaduna State Government said troops had succeeded in securing the train.
The government said it had received multiple reports of the attack on the train service around Kateri-Rijana general areas.
According to the government in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, “relevant action agencies were urgently contacted, and robust deployments of personnel were swiftly made to the area to secure the passengers on board.”
He said efforts are ongoing to convey the passengers from the location and others who sustained injuries have been rushed to hospitals for urgent medical attention.
Footages are circulating online of passengers who have sustained various degrees of injuries including gunshot wounds.
There are also unconfirmed reports that the attackers have abducted passengers from the train.
The government, however, said it would be liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to ascertain the list from the passengers’ manifest for efficient tracking.
“This is to acquire an accurate inventory of all passengers and their actual status,” the statement explains.
