The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has dismissed reports of the suspension of train services of the Edo-Warri train at Igueben-Ekehen station in Igueben LGA, Edo State, due to the recent attack on the station.
On Saturday, gunmen kidnapped many passengers from the station.
The travellers were said to have been waiting to board a train to Warri in Delta when they were kidnapped by the suspects on Saturday evening.
According to the state police command, the gunmen stormed the train station with AK 47 rifles and shot sporadically into the air before abducting the passengers into the bush, while others were said to have sustained bullet wounds.
Following the development, a WhatsApp message reportedly posted on an NRC passengers group, said the station has been temporarily closed.
“This is to inform our general public and most especially our esteemed passengers, that Ekehen station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice,” it reads.
However, the Managing Director of NRC, Fidet Okhiria, told newsmen that the train will no longer stop at the station for now, but only pass through.
“The train station has not been shut down. The only thing is that we’re not stopping there. If we shut it down, the train will not be able to pass through,” he said.
Meanwhile, the federal government condemned the act, saying it was saddened by the “barbaric” incident.
It assured Nigerians that efforts will be made to rescue the kidnapped passengers.
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