NRC suspends service on Abuja-Kaduna route after blast

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has suspended service on the Abuja-Kaduna route after gunmen detonated explosives on a rail line.

The NRC in a statement on its website on Thursday said the services were suspended for the safety of passengers and crew members.

According to the corporation, efforts were being put in place to ensure absolute safety along the route.

The Managing Director of the corporation, Fidet Okhiria, earlier confirmed the detonation of an explosive device on the rail line on the Abuja-Kaduna route.

Okhiria said the explosives damaged the rail tracks around Dutse and Rijana in Kaduna.

A viral video circulating online shows how a section of the tracks was severely damaged by explosives.

Okhiria, however, said efforts are ongoing to restore service on the route.

The Guardian earlier reported that NRC was investigating the cause of the explosion that left passengers on the train stranded in the bush for 6hours.

When asked if there were gunshots aimed at the train driver and the tank of the train, the NRC MD stated that “There was nothing like that. Only an explosive that went up on the track.