Another tragedy hit Edo State train station at Igueben Station in Igueben Local Government Area of the State as scores were kidnapped by suspected herdsmen on Saturday evening around 4:00pm when the passengers were waiting to board a train to Warri in Delta State. This incident was confirmed by the Edo State Police Command.
It was recalled that some months back a similar case occurred at a location called Katari in Kaduna State, where terrorists attacked a moving train from Kaduna to Abuja resulting in the death of about 14 passengers while 65 others were abducted.
The Edo Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, stating that the abductors invaded the train station with AK 47 rifles and abducted a score of the travelers into the bush while leaving some of the passengers with a gunshot injury.
Mr. Nwabuzo in his statement said:
“This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, an unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 rifles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped an 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 the 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.”
The Police PRO assured the families of the victims in his statement that the Police operatives have mobilized their team to rescue the victims, saying bush combing and clearance operations have commenced to rescue the victims and ensure that the kidnappers are brought to book.