Train attack: We owe victims, relations apology – Governors

Governors of the 36 states of the federation under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) have said they owe victims of Monday night’s Kaduna-Abuja train attack and their relations an apology.

Ekiti State governor and chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in a statement on Wednesday, said leaders at all levels must wake up to address the insecurity in the land.

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The governors said the plot by evildoers to take over Nigeria would fail, urging the security agencies to improve intelligence gathering as part of efforts to win the war against terror in the country.

“The Kaduna-Abuja train attack on Monday night is a horror dream orchestrated by the wicked merchants of death that we must all wake up from to address.

“This is one attack too many. It must stop.

“First, as leaders, we owe the victims and their relations an apology as these unwarranted acts of violence are becoming too regular and they basically question our collective capacity to govern.

“God will grant those that lost their lives eternal peace and a place in the deepest recesses of heaven.

“We wish those that were injured speedy recovery to resume their lives and put their heartless aggressors to shame.

“If the intention of these murderers is to disrupt the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians, they will not succeed and when eventually total peace returns to the country, they will surely either be lifeless or excluded,” the governors said.

Nigeria is in mourning following the Monday night bombing of the Kaduna-bound train by hundreds of terrorists.

The train was forced to a halt after the terrorists planted bombs on the tracks.

Witnesses said the attackers later surrounded most of the coaches and opened fire before they forcefully gained access, fired at random, which led to the death of some people.

They also forced some of the travellers, among them dozens of women and children out of the train into the nearby bushes.

Some witnesses said about nine corpses from the ill-fated train have been recovered and deposited at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna, while doctors have been battling to save the lives of those who sustained critical gunshot wounds.

Other sources said those killed were between nine and ten, while the Kaduna State government and the ministry of transportation put the casualty figure at eight.

The incident was among the 10 major attacks on rail transportation across the world, according to internet sources.