Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack: Union workers blame management
The National Union of Railway Men (NUR) has blamed the recent Abuja-Kaduna train attack by terrorists on the management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), saying that it disregarded their advice on the suspension of night train service till the security situation in the country improves.
Comrade Segun Esan, Secretary-General of the NUR, disclosed in a statement to journalists, that the union had proposed to the management to stop night train service when the train was first attacked in the same axis in October 2021 but regretted that its advice was taken with the pinch of salt.
Besides, Esan emphasised that the union also advised the management to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, explosive detectors and other technology-based approaches on trains, which allegedly was not observed by the railway management.
Recall that about 970 passengers on board the ill-fated train fell victims to an attack from bandits on Monday night.
READ ALSO: Again bandits attack Abuja-Kaduna train with 970 passengers on board
Esan expressed shock that the deadly attack could happen on the train barely five months after the first one on the same Abuja-Kaduna passenger train.
The statement added: “As a responsible union, we are completely touched and held in thrall that such a dastardly and unprovoked terrorist attack can befall the flagship and the essence of our operational existence as a corporation for the second time in quick succession having tasted the gall of this terrorist attack on our passenger train in October 2021.
“We regret that there is no proof that all our observations expressed to the NRC management on improving the security and safety of the train service was taken especially our advice that night train service be stopped till security situation of the service is improved with on-train CCTV, explosives detectors and other technology-based approaches.”
Esan further appealed that the leadership of the union would make a specific pronouncement on the unfortunate incident soon, stressing that it was gathering information and processing same analytically with a view to arriving at rational convergence leading to making a definite official pronouncement.
Besides, he emphasised that the President General of NUR and members of the Central Working Committee would visit the accident scene shortly for a first-hand assessment of the incident.
“However, our prayers and heartfelt concern are with some of our railway workers and other innocent commuting passengers who might have been tragically traumatised or sustained various degrees of wounds in the incident,” the statement added.
He, however, assured that the union would not relent in its effort at making the railway truly and practically safe for all.
