Train attack: Five more passengers found safe, 141 others unknown, another coach recovered

Five days after a passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna was attacked by terrorists, the safety and whereabouts of 141 persons aboard the AK-9 train are yet to be ascertained by the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

The corporation, which said this on Tuesday in a statement, however confirmed the safety of five more passengers of the train.

This is as another coach (SP00020) damaged as a result of the attack, has been successfully re-railed and moved safely to the Rigasa station, Kaduna, bringing the total of re-railed coaches to eight.

The Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhiria, confirmed the safety of additional five persons, bringing the total number of persons confirmed safe to 191.

“191 persons on the manifest are now confirmed safe and at their various homes (additional five persons confirmed safe today. 46 phone numbers on the manifest are still either switched off or not reachable since Tuesday morning. 33 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing but still no response from the other end. 62 phone numbers on the manifest when called, respond non-existent. 22 persons are reported missing by their relatives and eight persons are confirmed dead,” Okhiria stated in the release.

Of the 20 crew members onboard the train, made up of NRC personnel, janitors and caterers, Okhiria said 12 had been confirmed well, seven declared missing and one reported dead.

The corporation, he added, remains committed to the safety of its passengers and staff on board the ill-fated Ak9 train service and will continue to “collaborate with security agencies to ensure all persons being held are rescued unhurt and reunited with their families.”