Brave Dickson
Police have urged the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC to hire the services of local vigilantes to surveillance train routes in order to forestall another train attacks.
According to the police, the advice became necessary following a bloody attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train last week by suspected terrorists leaving scores of passengers dead.
In a chat with our correspondent, the Lagos State Divisional Police Officer of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, CSP Michael Ochuku said, “no doubt, the recent attack on the Abuja/Kaduna passengers’ train will erode the confidence of travellers, in railway transportation system.
“NRC should activate a security information vote, to cater for recognised local vigilantes in the areas where the tracks transverse. Especially the bushy areas so that monitoring of the tracks, major railway stations can be sustained and suspicious movements reported to the appropriate quarters,for prompt necessary action.
“The manpower of the police/other supporting security staff in the NRC, should be increased.
“NRC locomotive drivers, staff and armed security operatives working in the Nigeria Railway Corporation, should constantly undergo emergency preparedness training/drills.
“Land mine/explosive detectors should be procured and fixed on the trains locomotive. This will help to sound an advance alert to the driver, in order not to run into any of such object(s) planted on the runway.
“Body and baggage scanners should also be procured and mounted in major railway stations and terminals. This is in addition to hand-held-devices to be use by designated NRC staff on duty in the train.
“Aggressive public safety measures by the NRC should be made in prints and electronics media, fliers, bill boards for passengers to be fully abreast of such measures, aimed at protecting them and their goods while transiting on train.
“All untarred railway level crossing should be coat-tarred. This is to prevent unscrupulous person(s) from digging and planting improvised explosive devices around the level crossing.”
