The abduction of undisclosed number of passengers waiting to board a train from the Igueben station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State, by gunmen has thrown the residents into turmoil.
The Spokesperson for Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident in a statement.
According to him, the abductors, armed with AK 47, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air before abducting scores of intending travellers into the bush.
Nwabuzor said that many of the passengers sustained bullet wounds, assuring that operatives were on the trail of the abductors with an aim to rescue those the kidnappers herded into the bush.
He said: “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that on January 7, 2023, at about 1600hrs, an unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK-47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped an unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.
“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of the crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.
“Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated.”
Reacting to the abduction, the Executive Director, Esan Youth for Good Governance and Social Justice, Benson Odia, told The PUNCH that a woman who was abducted escaped and the manager and booking clerk at the train station were among those still missing.
He said the attack had thrown the community into panic and sadness with residents wondering what had become the fate of the victims.
Odia stated that the attack took place at about 4pm on Saturday when the intending passengers were waiting to board the train to Warri, Delta State.
He said: “The official time for the train to arrive was 4pm so the attack must have happened that time. On that Saturday evening, all intending passengers were waiting to board the train when the kidnappers struck with sophisticated weapons. The abducted victims included the manager, the booking clerk and passengers, while many persons are still missing.
“As of 8.15 pm, a woman escaped and found herself in Okpoji in Esan Central and she has reunited with her family. The woman is not from Igueben, she came for a ceremony and was at the station to take the train back to her destination in Warri.
“These attacks have become incessant in Edo Central and it is becoming difficult to use the roads,” he added.
Odia lamented as he alleged that those attacks were being carried out with the connivance of the locals who are from Igueben and its environs.
“I cannot really say the tribes of the attackers, whether they are Nigerians or foreigners. The forest is at the back of the railway. What I am trying to say is that there is connivance between our people and others. You can’t accuse the Fulani herdsmen of being the only ones involved. A Fulani from Sokoto or other parts of the country cannot operate freely here without the collaboration of the locals.
“I will call on the state government to work with the Federal Government to site a military base in Esanland. We are aware that kidnappers have their camps in Igueben.”
The Onogie of Igueben, Edo State, Ehizojie Eluojierior, has also reacted to the kidnap of the train passengers on Saturday.
According to him, the abduction has thrown the community into an unwanted silence as people are yet to recover from the sad incident.
He claimed that kidnappings had previously happened around the area without getting reported most times.
He said: “The mood in the town is quiet as well as activated because the police, vigilantes, and hunters are working together on the issue.
“They combed the bush till midnight on Saturday and resumed Sunday morning. I hear there had been a similar attempt in Delta State by bandits from another part of the country, which was repelled.
“The attack took everyone by surprise and it happened at about 4pm when the train was being expected.
“The security agencies are working to rescue those people, and information has it that they also shot people who sustained injuries.
“We are still trying to find out if our people were kidnapped or shot. Some people might probably be in hospitals but we are still trying to get details of what happened.
“No community member has come forward to report about the kidnap of their family members.
“The other thing is that when these people are travelling, you don’t know if they are travelling by road or rail.
“Though concerned citizens have been coming to me to give information about the abduction.
:The council representatives have been with me to see how they can mobilise more vigilantes and hunters.
“A pursuit is going on and it is when they settle down that the gunmen can contact the family of those abducted.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Railway Corporation on Sunday, 8 January, announced the closure of Ekehen Station in Edo State till further notice.
The organization said the decision became necessary following rising security challenges.
A public announcement by the NRC posted on the passengers’ WhatsApp Group obtained by our correspondent said the closure was “till further notice.”
The statement reads: “Public Announcement: 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.”
Another notice reads: “Due to the incident at Ekehen station on Saturday, WITS 01/ 02 will no longer stop at Ekehen Station. Please advise our customers.”
