The bomb blast that shattered a section of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line on Wednesday and the subsequent attack on passengers on Thursday morning may have been averted if security operatives had acted promptly on available information.
Intelligence gathered that there were two separate intelligence reports regarding the attack two days prior.
It was reported that the terrorists first attacked the train on Wednesday night and successfully immobilized it after struggling to move for 7km after the attack.
The terrorists, according to inside sources, returned again on Thursday morning to plant explosive device on the rail track, but the train surmounted the hurdle to reach the terminus.
Intelligence have sighted classified messages exchanged between a notorious bandit, alias Baffa, and his crony, code named: Bala.
The said intel, dated October 19, 2021 and titled “PLANNED ATTACK ON TRAIN AROUND RIJANA, KADUNA STATE”, stated in clear terms how the mission was planned and executed by the Darul Salam terrorists.
In the document, Baffa informed Bala that members of Darussalam, (Boko Haram) in collaboration with bandits led by Danlami and Lawan are currently on their way to plant a bomb at a bridge on the railway in Rijana to hijack a moving train and kidnap the passengers.
Baffa said he decided not to participate in the operation because: “It is risky but believed that DANLAMI and LAWAN will blow up the bridge.”
When contacted, spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, Mohammed Jalige declined comment on the matter, saying the railway infrastructure and its security are under the command of a Commissioner of Police in charge of railways.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of railways, Oyediran Oyeyemi, however referred newsmen to the Force spokesman, Frank Mba. Mr Mba neither picked nor returned his calls when contacted on phone for comments.
Credit: Eons intelligence
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