The State Security Services (SSS) has issued a security warning regarding a significant scheme by bandits to launch an attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train service in the near future.
It will be recalled that on March 28, 2022, a train heading from Abuja to Kaduna was attacked in Katari village, Kaduna State. About 970 passengers were on board, many were hit by the assailants’ bullets and several were abducted into the bush by the marauding terrorists who were said to have arrived on motorbikes holding firearms and other deadly weapons.
This prompted a temporary suspension of operations by the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) along the route.
Sadly, despite repeated security reports and warnings about the impending attack, the authorities did nothing to secure the rail tracks and its environs. Noting was also done to safeguard the lives of passengers in the event of an attack and it happened.
A confidential letter, signed by the Director of DSS FCT Command, R.N. Adepemu, has been leaked. The letter, titled “Security Alert: Impending Threat By A Coalition Of Banditry Syndicate To Attack Abuja-Kaduna Train Service Along AKTS Corridor,” highlights the necessity for passengers on the train to exercise heightened caution.
The DSS cautioned that there is an imminent threat to the seamless functioning of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS). The internal memo disclosed that a group of bandits is collaborating to carry out an assault on the Abuja-Kaduna train with the intention of kidnapping passengers for ransom in the near future.
The letter strongly recommends that security measures be intensified both within and along the AKTS route. These measures include aerial surveillance patrols, monitoring of the rail track, military and police checkpoints and patrols, and targeted security operations in specific areas such as Byazhin, Jibi, and the Ja forest.
Additionally, the memo suggests enhancing the presence of Nigeria Police Mobile Force (NPMF) operatives equipped with walkie-talkies to ensure proper escort services on the train.
The deployment of more personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with walkie-talkies is also advised for escort duty.
The memo underscores the classified nature of its contents and warns of potential legal action for unauthorized disclosure. Furthermore, it proposes the establishment of a crisis response team for rapid intervention in the event of an attack and emphasizes the importance of intelligence sharing among all relevant stakeholders.
While this imminent threat has not yet become public knowledge, the DSS alert raises concerns about the safety of passengers and assets along the AKTS corridor.
Therefore, discreet management of this intelligence is deemed crucial. This assessment is particularly relevant in light of previous fatal attacks on the route that resulted in casualties and the abduction of passengers for extended periods before eventual release, as outlined in the DSS memo.
