About 52 cattle were on Sunday crushed by the Abuja-Kaduna train in Kasarami village in Jere District of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna state on its way to Abuja.
Kaduna state Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdulrahman, while confirming the incident said the command received a distressed call of the accident at 11.45am.
CP Ahmad said he personally led principal staff of the Command to the spot at Kasarami in Jere District of Kargarko Local Government Area.
“When we get to the spot, we found out that contrary to earlier reports of attack by insurgents, what actually happened was an accident,” he said.
According to him, “Some Fulani herders who passed the night at Kasarami asked if they could cross over with their cattles and were misinformed that there are no rail services on Sunday.
“It was when they were half way across the track, that a fast moving train from Rigasa station on its way to Abuja approached the spot where the cattle were crossing on a high speed and in the process, it crushed to death 52.”
He said 27 cattle that were still alive were ordered to be slaughter and sold out to reduce the loss on the herder.
While clarifiying that the incident was an accident and no human life was lost, he added, “The Fulani herders were on their way back to Katsina state. I had a meeting with their leaders and the farmers in the area in other to check future occurrence.
“I want to call on the people of Kaduna state to go about with their lawful activities as the command is doing everything to ensure that lives and property are protected in the state.”