Minister Transport, Mu’ázu Sambo has lamented over the attack by bandits on Tom Ikimi Train Station located in Igueben, Edo State, South-South Nigeria, in which no fewer than 32 persons including the station manager were reportedly taken hostage.

This is coming about one month after the remnants of the victims of the Kaduna train attack, who were kidnapped in March last year regained their freedom, having paid various amounts as ransom.

The Minister, who spoke via a press statement signed by the Director, Press & Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, said the government is saddened by this unpleasant development and assures on its prompt response to the ugly situation.

The statement reads in part: “The Federal Government condemns the despicable and utterly barbaric kidnapping of passengers at Tom Ikimi Train Station, Igueben, Edo State.

The public is hereby reassured that the security agencies are making efforts to rescue the kidnapped train passengers. The Nigerian Police is on the trail of the criminals and have mobilised with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.”

Recall that the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, had while briefing the media on the attack in Benin, the state capital on Sunday, disclosed that no fewer than 31 passengers and members of staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation NRC were believed to have been abducted by gunmen on Saturday at the Igueben train sub-station in the state. He also confirmed that several passengers were injured.

Meanwhile, the state Police Command had also in a statement on Sunday, said the kidnappers were herdsmen armed with AK-47 riffles. It said some of the passengers sustained bullet wounds, but assured that bush combing and rescue operations had begun to try to rescue the victims.

The Commissioner had however disclosed that one of the kidnappers had been arrested and was currently helping the police in their investigation, while one of the victims escaped.

 “After 32 persons were kidnapped, the Police, Vigilante, and local hunters swung into action, combing the bushes around the vicinity. One of the kidnapped victims was able to escape.

“The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has visited the scene of the attack for on-the-spot assessment and was told that one of the suspects was arrested and he has been helping the police with investigation to arrest other fleeing members of the kidnapping gang.

“We congratulate the police and other security agencies for their swiftness in attending to the security brief. We appreciate the local hunters and members of the Edo State Security Network, as their collaboration assisted in this operation. This synergy led to the success recorded in a very short time.

“We hope this is the last time we will have such an attack on government infrastructure, especially train stations here in Edo State. Our security network was swift to react to the incident and we condole the families of victims. We will give necessary support to the security agencies, vigilantes and local hunters who are on the trail of these kidnappers”, Nehikhare had said.