Nigerian railway shuts Edo train station indefinitely after gunmen attack

Following gunmen attack and abduction of some travellers at a train station in Edo on Saturday, the Nigerian Railway Corporation on Sunday announced the closure of station indefinitely.
The NRC said the decision to shut the station was due to the rising security challenges in the area.

A public announcement by the NRC posted on the passengers’ WhatsApp Group stated that the closure was “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 reads, “Due to the incident at Ekehen station on Saturday, WITS 01/ 02 will no longer stop at Ekehen Station. Please advise our customers.”
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Saturday evening 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.
Spokesperson for Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident in a statement.
According to him, the abductors, armed with AK 47, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air before abducting scores of intending travellers into the bush.
Nwabuzor said that many of the passengers sustained gunshot wounds but added that security operatives were on the trail of the abductors with the aim of rescuing those the kidnapped victims.