Crime / News / Transportation

Breaking: 146 Abuja-Kaduna train passengers unreachable –NRC

One hundred and forty-six of the 362 passengers on the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train are unreachable six days after the train was attacked by terrorists.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, made this known in a statement obtained on Monday.

He, however, said the number of safe passengers had risen to 186.

Okhiria said 51 phone numbers on the manifest are either switched off or unreachable since Tuesday morning and 35 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing, but no response from the other end.

He also noted that 60 phone numbers on the manifest when called, responded non-existent.

The NRC boss clarified that 22 persons are reported missing by their relatives and eight persons were confirmed dead.

Part of the statement read, “51 phone numbers on the manifest are either switched off or have not been reachable since Tuesday morning and 35 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing, but no response from the other end. 60 phone numbers on the manifest when called, responded non-existent.

”The statement is aimed at updating Nigerians on the ongoing development regarding the clearing of the incident site (recovery of the rolling stock, repairs of the track) and status of Passengers that were on board the AK9 train of Monday, March 28.

”Of the 362 validated passengers on board the attacked AK9 train service on March 28, 186 persons on the manifest are confirmed to be safe and at their various homes (additional 14 persons confirmed safe today).

“Two coaches (SP 00016 and SP 00017) earlier re-railed have safely been moved to Rigasa Station.

”This brings the total number of recovered Coaches and safely moved to NRC Stations to be seven. Intensive work continues on track repairs. More concrete Sleepers were moved to site while some section of twisted tracks has been straightened.

”We remain grateful to the security agencies for all the support. We are very appreciative of Squadron Commander MOPOL 1 Kaduna’s visit to the accident site today.

”NRC will continue to update the general public of developments to …

News

Missing Journalist: IG assures NUJ of resolving case

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, on Monday assured the Nigeria Union of Journalists of the Force’s readiness to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of Tordue Henry Salem, a reporter with the Vanguard Newspapers.

The I-G gave the assurance when members of NUJ, FCT Council carried out a peaceful march to his office in Abuja.

The journalists were there to express displeasure with the silence of the police on the matter.

Baba, represented by Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, disclosed that Salem’s case was with them, explaining that it was officially reported to the National Assembly Police Station on October 15. He said from their investigation, Salem slept in the house of his sister somewhere around Life Camp on October 12, woke up on October 13, took a Bolt Taxi to the National Assembly, where he worked for Vanguard.

He added: “After close of work, he was last seen at the National Assembly between 4pm and 5pm on October 13 and thereafter his colleagues never saw him again.

“On October 15, the matter was formally reported at the National Assembly’s Police Station.

“The attention of the FCT Commissioner of Police and IG were drawn to the case.

“The IGP gave a firm instruction that all materials and human resources should be deployed at locating and understanding the rationale behind Salem’s disappearance.

“As I speak to you, we have made significant progress in investigation.

“However,  I am glad that the Chairman of NUJ, FCT Council understood the significance of confidential briefing and because of that request, I would rather do more of confidential briefing.

“But we were able to trace when he left the National Assembly.

“We were able to interact with a young lady who spent time with him that night.

“We have the recordings of the last call he made.

“Also, we were able to speak with six different persons he spoke to that night.

“So, there are a lot of efforts behind the scene taking place.

“The Police intentionally kept quiet on the case.…