Security forces have been strategically placed along the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor, including bushes and train stations, in response to intelligence reports suggesting a potential threat. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has taken proactive measures to prevent any alleged plans to attack trains operating on this route.
According to an undisclosed NRC official, each train on the Abuja-Kaduna route will now have a minimum of 15 riot policemen on board. Additionally, enhanced security features include closed-circuit cameras and Thuraya phones installed in each coach. These measures align with recommendations from a letter sent by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the NRC.
The NRC's high-ranking representative stated, "I have spoken directly with the security team, who confirmed that soldiers from the Air Force and Army have been deployed, including in the forests along the route. Some of our staff escorting the train reported sightings of soldiers at various stations and even within the surrounding bushes. The Chief of Defence Staff, in collaboration with the Chief of Army Staff, has directed thorough searches of the Rigasa, Jere, and Asham areas to identify potential threats."
The number of security personnel aboard the train has not been increased, but for each journey from Abuja to Kaduna, a contingent of at least 15 Mobile Police Officers will join, fully equipped with arms. Surveillance cameras have also been installed on locomotives, with monitoring conducted from the Idu Station, enabling operators to observe activities in and around the train.
The official emphasized, "These measures, along with other undisclosed precautions, have been put in place to prevent any potential attacks and ensure we do not experience a repeat of the events in March last year."
A letter dated August 11 from the DSS to the NRC urged heightened security around the corporation's stations. The letter, titled "Security Alert: Impending Threat to Attack Abuja-Kaduna Train Service," warned of a coalition of banditry syndicates planning to target the train service for kidnapping and ransom purposes. The DSS recommended various security enhancements, including air surveillance patrols, military and police checkpoints, and increased presence of security forces at specific locations.
Notably, an incident in March of the previous year saw gunmen kill eight individuals and abduct 168 passengers on a Kaduna-bound train near Rigasa. Some hostages were released after their families paid ransoms, while others were freed following negotiations between government representatives and the bandits. One of the key figures behind the attack was apprehended in February as part of Operation Whirl Punch.
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