Gunmen attack travellers near Kaduna’s Rigasa railway station

Kaduna – Gunmen on Saturday attacked  vehicles conveying travellers shortly after arriving Rigasa railway station from Abuja, injured some of them and abducted several others.‎

The attack occurred along the road linking airport road from the railway station at about 8pm.

A similar attack occurred on Friday at about the same time on the same road after passengers left the train station heading to their homes in Kaduna and other places.

Already, some families of those abducted have been contacted by the kidnappers demanding N20 million ransom.

PDP charges NASS to summon Buhari over national security

One of those shot by the kidnappers is currently in critical condition at the 44 Army Reference Hospital Kaduna receiving treatment.

An eye witnessed at the train station motor park on condition of anonymity said that some of  the vehicles hurriedly turned back when they heard gunshots.

“This is the second time they attacked vehicles conveying travellers who alighted from the train along same road.

“A similar incident happened on Friday night and again they attacked travellers on Saturday night,” he said.

When contacted, the Police Command Public Relations  Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, confirmed the incident and pledged to provide details later.

 Also President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the repeated attacks by bandits on communities in Niger state and its environs, directing the Nigerian Air Force to deploy its fighter aircraft in checking the menace.

The president gave the directive in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday.

President Buhari described the repeated attacks which led to loss of several lives in the affected communities “as a disaster for the nation”.

He, therefore, authorized the deployment of air power to support troops and policemen deployed to the “difficult terrain,” to counter the menace of the attackers operating in the forest area bordering Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara states.

In line with this directive, according to the presidential aide, the Nigerian Air Force is setting up refueling facilities at Minna, Niger state, to support the air operations.

Shehu revealed that relevant military authorities had assured the president that given the improved weather conditions, a major exercise to “visually acquire targets” and launch attacks would soon follow.

He said: ”President Buhari has received assurances that with the harmattan dust gradually easing its hold on the skies, fighter aircraft would this week join the efforts to provide effective air attacks against bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers that have been attacking remote communities around Dogon Gona forest in Niger State.”

He added that the Police Command in Niger had equally given assurances that ”the planned dedicated air raids to complement the police helicopter gunship operations remain the best approach given the lack of motorized roads in the areas constantly under attack”.

President Buhari commiserated with the government and people of Niger State over the attacks and loss of lives, and assured that affected communities would not be abandoned by the rest of the country.(NAN)