The proposed resumption of train services from Abuja to Kaduna will not happen with those abducted by terrorists on March 28 are still in the forests as captives, their family members, vowed on Monday, railing at the attitude of the Federal Government in failing to rescue them.
About 68 passengers were reportedly taken captives after the terrorists first blasted the rail lines on the train’s approach to the Kaduna end of the evening trip, before attacking the passengers and killing many of them.
While one or two, were said to have been freed, including the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Alwan Ali Hassan, the others have remained in the bush with their abductors, 42 days after, with one of them, a pregnant woman, said to have delivered in the bush.
However, authorities had indicated that the services would resume in a few day’s time, after repair works had been carried out at the damaged portion of the rail lines, with President Muhammadu Buhari, ordering a fresh set of modalities, including that the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) must establish a Situation Room to give a minute-by-minute account of rescue efforts to relatives of kidnapped passengers.
But a completely scandalised family members, told reporters on Monday that their family members must be released first before the services could resume, blaming the government and the corporation for failing to consider the fate of those in captivity and their family members.
They said during the interaction that: “The NRC has neither contacted the relatives of kidnapped victims nor established any Situation Room as directed by the President. The Federal government should quickly rescue our family members held hostage.”
“Abuja-Kaduna Train Service should not resume until the first prayer is met, and adequate security measures are put in place to guarantee the safety of prospective passengers. This position aligns with the prayers of the majority of Nigerians”.