Nigerians put pressure on the Nigeria Railway Corporation to restart train service on the Abuja-Kaduna route on May 23.
Fidet Okhiria, the Corporation’s Managing Director, claimed that the “mighty and low” were pressuring the Corporation to resume operations on that axis.
Okhiria told newmen in an interview on Arise Television that if the trains remain deserted for a long time, it will have negative security repercussions for the railroad system.
“We have been under pressure from Nigerians, mighty and low, to resume operations. They are those who want to benefit from a working train.
“We have weighed the pros and cons and can’t fold up the country,” he said.
If the government fails to rescue those held captive, the families of the abducted victims have vowed to halt railway service.
However, Okhiria stated that the NRC was aware of the hardship of the affected families and that the government is working relentlessly to ensure their release.
“We have worked very hard in the last one month to do the best we can do to ensure that those held hostages are released.
“If you identify those people who are against the resumption and investigate them, you will discover that they are not related to those in captivity.
“We are talking to the families of those being held. As I said earlier, we are under tremendous pressure to resume operation,” he said.
When asked about the Corporation’s security procedures to prevent a repeat, Okhiria said such material was not for public consumption, but added that once train service in that axis resumes, it will face increased protection.
Aboard March 28, terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) on a train traveling from Kaduna to Abuja.
Terrorists gained entry to the train, which had at least 362 passengers on board, while shooting sporadically at the coaches.
Eight people were reported deceased, 26 people were injured, and 62 people were taken away. The NRC, on the other hand, has declared over 180 of them safe.
As a result, the NRC halted operations on the axis the next day to allow for the repair of the damaged tracks.
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