President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime says it is putting concrete security measures in place to safeguard train passengers and railway infrastructure across the country from bandits and other criminal elements.

Fidet Okhiria, the managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), disclosed this in Abuja.

“A team was set up, not just for Abuja-Kaduna but for rail security, and we are meeting to ensure concrete measures to safeguard train passengers and railway infrastructure across the country. We have broken into committees, and while that is going on, those things we need to put in place to help us run safe and secure trains are also being put in place within the NRC,” said Mr Okhiria. “We are providing some shields like barracks where the police can feel safe and comfortable to work.”

He added, “We are also going to provide some sort of mobility and safety wears for the security people. The team is made up of the office of the chief of defence staff, the chief of army staff, the IG, DSS and the military intelligence; we have all in that committee.”

The NRC boss stressed that “those things we can do before the committee submit their report, we are putting in place so that we can start operation when we think it’s safe to start.”

Mr Okhiria commended the Buhari regime for securing the release of the remaining 23 Abuja-Kaduna train passengers kidnapped for ransom by bandits.

“We congratulate Nigerians. We can say that the government has done marvellously well. If we recall, when the president met with the relatives of the affected people, he made a promise that what is important is for the people to be released without harm,” said the government official.

Regarding when train services will resume, Mr Okhiria said, “It is in the hands of the committee to decide. Regarding operations, however, I will say we are ready with the locomotives, and we are ready with the tracks.”

Armed bandits attacked and kidnapped many train passengers on March 28. Several passengers were later freed, but the 23 were held hostage until they regained their freedom on Wednesday. 

(NAN)