BREAKING: Gunmen Attack Another Nigerian Train Station, Kidnap Many Passengers
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
Suspected gunmen have attacked a train station in Edo State, southern Nigeria, and abducted several passengers.
The police spokesperson in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, stated that the attackers were armed with AK-47 rifles.
The exact number of people who were abducted is unknown at this time.
Nwabuzor referred to the attackers as “herdsmen,” who are known to be loosely organized bands of armed individuals who were previously engaged in cattle rearing but have now turned to committing crimes such as kidnapping and murder across the country.
“This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped 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 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,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement.
The attack in Edo State follows a similar incident in Kaduna State in northwest Nigeria several months ago, in which gunmen attacked a moving train.
This is the first attack on a train facility in southern Nigeria, but the state has seen other major criminal acts in the past, including an attack on a prison that resulted in the escape of many inmates.
The latest attack also takes place just under two months before the general elections in Nigeria.
