Edo Train Attack: Entire Railway System Vulnerable — Expert
Security and intelligence expert Dr. Kabiru Adamu said the entire railway system in the country is vulnerable to attack.
Adamu said this during an interview on Channels TV's Sunrise Daily, followed by our correspondent on Monday morning.
The PUNCH reported on Sunday that dozens of passengers waiting to board a train from Igueben Station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in the State of the Delta were abducted by suspected shepherds on Saturday evening.
Adamu, however, lamented the lack of security guards at the station as well as security gadgets like CCTVs that could help in the investigation and early detection of what happened.
>He said: "Accountability is a major challenge. We have a Minister of Information who has promised us that the level of security on the railway is adequate and is confident that is why he is taking over the rail services when the Abuja-Kaduna rail service was resumed and I am sure he felt that this applied to all rail infrastructure in the country.
"But unfortunately this incident clearly showed and confirmed what we said when he (the minister) made this statement.
"Earlier I explained what a good security posture should be in any location, and I can tell you with all due responsibility that the entire railway infrastructure unfortunately remains vulnerable. ."
Adamu further said that preventive measures such as CCTV should be installed in all railway stations and all states in the country, adding that the attacked station did not have any CCTV which would have helped in the event of an attack .
He also added that the early warning system through traditional leaders, communities, market councils and others should be used effectively to prevent or even prevent further attacks, as the information or intelligence could be shared early to prevent attacks of any kind.
The Edo train attack comes 10 months after bandits attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train service, killing 14 passengers and kidnapping 65 others. They were released after spending months in captivity and paying ransoms.
Edo Police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the kidnappers, armed with AK 47s, stormed the station and fired sporadically into the air before to kidnap dozens of potential travelers in the bush.
He said, however, that security agencies were combing the bushes for the abducted passengers.
The PUNCH also reported that Inspector General of Police Usman Baba has dispatched special police squads, including the Intelligence Response Team and Counter Terrorism Squad to the state of Edo to rescue victims to complement police efforts in the state.
Two abducted victims were rescued while a suspect linked to the attack was taken into custody, and 31 other passengers are still missing.
Security and intelligence expert Dr. Kabiru Adamu said the entire railway system in the country is vulnerable to attack.
Adamu said this during an interview on Channels TV's Sunrise Daily, followed by our correspondent on Monday morning.
The PUNCH reported on Sunday that dozens of passengers waiting to board a train from Igueben Station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in the State of the Delta were abducted by suspected shepherds on Saturday evening.
Adamu, however, lamented the lack of security guards at the station as well as security gadgets like CCTVs that could help in the investigation and early detection of what happened.
>He said: "Accountability is a major challenge. We have a Minister of Information who has promised us that the level of security on the railway is adequate and is confident that is why he is taking over the rail services when the Abuja-Kaduna rail service was resumed and I am sure he felt that this applied to all rail infrastructure in the country.
"But unfortunately this incident clearly showed and confirmed what we said when he (the minister) made this statement.
"Earlier I explained what a good security posture should be in any location, and I can tell you with all due responsibility that the entire railway infrastructure unfortunately remains vulnerable. ."
Adamu further said that preventive measures such as CCTV should be installed in all railway stations and all states in the country, adding that the attacked station did not have any CCTV which would have helped in the event of an attack .
He also added that the early warning system through traditional leaders, communities, market councils and others should be used effectively to prevent or even prevent further attacks, as the information or intelligence could be shared early to prevent attacks of any kind.
The Edo train attack comes 10 months after bandits attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train service, killing 14 passengers and kidnapping 65 others. They were released after spending months in captivity and paying ransoms.
Edo Police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the kidnappers, armed with AK 47s, stormed the station and fired sporadically into the air before to kidnap dozens of potential travelers in the bush.
He said, however, that security agencies were combing the bushes for the abducted passengers.
The PUNCH also reported that Inspector General of Police Usman Baba has dispatched special police squads, including the Intelligence Response Team and Counter Terrorism Squad to the state of Edo to rescue victims to complement police efforts in the state.
Two abducted victims were rescued while a suspect linked to the attack was taken into custody, and 31 other passengers are still missing.
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