In a significant security alert, the Department of State Services (DSS) has raised concerns about an imminent threat posed by bandits to the Abuja-Kaduna train link, urging passengers to exercise heightened caution.
This alert follows a leaked internal memo addressed to the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).
The letter, signed by the Director of DSS FCT Command, R.N. Adepemu, underlines the seriousness of the situation, describing it as a “Security Alert: Impending Threat by a Coalition of Banditry Syndicate to Attack Abuja-Kaduna Train Service Along AKTS Corridor.”
The intelligence report indicates a scheme by a coalition of banditry groups to target the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service, with the intention of abducting passengers on board for ransom in the near future.
As a proactive measure to mitigate this threat, the DSS memo outlines a range of counter-security measures to be implemented along the train route:
Enhanced air surveillance patrols
Surveillance activities along the rail track
Increased military and police checkpoints and patrols
Security raids in specific areas including Byazhin, Jibi, and Ja Forest
Strengthened escort services on the train by the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (NPMF) with the use of walkie-talkies
Deployment of additional Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel for escort duties
Formation of a crisis response team for swift action in the event of an attack
Establishment of robust intelligence-sharing mechanisms among relevant stakeholders
The DSS emphasizes that the information shared in the memo is classified and should not be disclosed without authorization, as unauthorized disclosure could lead to legal consequences.
The context of this warning is set against past fatal attacks along the Abuja-Kaduna train route, which resulted in casualties, abductions, and a heightened sense of insecurity among stakeholders and commuters along the AKTS corridor.
While this threat is not yet public knowledge, the DSS underscores the critical importance of discreetly managing the intelligence provided to ensure the safety of lives and property.
This approach is underscored by the memory of previous attacks that led to tragic outcomes, including fatalities and prolonged abductions.
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