Angry Passengers Overwhelm Security Officials At Abuja Train Station

Railway security staff have been overwhelmed by angry passengers at the Idu train station in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The incident happened on Friday, just two days to Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

A Channels Television correspondent who witnessed the incident reports that the passengers forcefully made their way into the station to board the train heading for Rigasa in Kaduna State.

Some of the passengers explained that they got to the station early enough to purchase tickets for the trip.

They, however, alleged that some officials of the station were involved in ticket racketeering and hoarding, an act that led to the rowdy situation.

According to one of them, some passengers got there by 11 am to purchase tickets for 2.20pm train, only to be told that the tickets have been sold out.

He added that when they made trouble, tickets suddenly showed up and by the time some of them could get the tickets, they had to stand.

A staff of the media team of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Nafisa Bello, claimed to be ‘very busy’ when contacted to react to the accusations of ticket racketeering and hoarding.

Although it could not be ascertained if the passengers are Muslims traveling for the Sallah celebration, the Federal Government had declared Monday and Tuesday next week for Eid-el-Kabir.

In a statement on Tuesday, the government congratulated the Muslim faithful on the occasion and called on all Nigerians to use the period to embrace the virtues of love, humility, and peace.

It also urged the people to shun any form of disruptive tendencies and join hands with the government to build a peaceful, strong and united Nigeria for the growth and development of the nation.