After eight months of suspension, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has resumed operations at the Abuja-Kaduna Railway.
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| A train leaves Rigasa Train Station, Kaduna State, the main rail terminus on the 186km line from Kaduna to Abuja. Photo: TJ Benson/Al Jazeera |
Due to an attack on a passenger train by Boko Haram in March, which led to deaths, abductions and injuries to passengers, the NRC took the decision to suspends every from of operation.
On Monday, however, operations kicked off again with the first train leaving the Rigasa Train Station in Kaduna to Abuja by 08:00am.
The first train also left Abuja from the Idu Train Station to Kaduna State by 09:45am.
The Kaduna-Abuja bound train which left the Rigasa Train Station, Kaduna, arrived at the Idu Train Station, Abuja at 10:22am.
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has given the order for the deployment of armed personnel along the route.
A Police statement read: “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, FDC, CFR, has ordered immediate deployment of armed personnel drawn from the Police Mobile Force, K-9, Force Intelligence Bureau, Explosive Ordnance Unit and Railway Police Command for the commencement of railway services along Abuja/Kaduna rail lines on Monday 5th December 2022.
“The deployment covers major railway stations along the route and operational coaches to provide adequate security for passengers, their property, and the entire service in order to prevent any unforeseen incidence.”
