Insecurity: Travellers Abandon Kaduna-Abuja Highway, Throng Train Stations *EFCC clamps down on train ticket racketeers

Following incessant kidnappings on the Abuja-Kaduna highway, travellers have abandoned the highway in preference for rail transport.

The number of travellers on the ever busy route has declined significantly with most of the northern-bound travellers showing up at the Abuja train stations at Idu and Kubwa to scramble for tickets.

This is coming as the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja zonal office arrested five suspected train ticket racketeers. They are Clement Zakka, Udim Sunday Samson, Adams Danladi, Otitomoni Omobolanle and Hassan Dauda.

Media checks showed that in spite of the joint security task force tagged: ‘Operation Puff Adder’ launched by the federal government at the weekend to address the menace of kidnappings and banditry in the North-west, travellers have lost confidence in the government ability to ensure adequate security on the road.

Most of the travellers, it was gathered, are northern-bound passengers headed for Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States.

A passenger, Luka Nquat, who spoke on the development, said commuters had no other option than to travel by train.

 

According to him, “We have no other option than to go by train. Government has taken many security measures, but has it stopped kidnapping on the road? In my area so many people have been affected by this scourge.  Train is safer for now until the government demonstrates ability to provide security on that road.”

On ticket racketeering, the EFCC said it swung into action after receiving an intelligence report alleging that some group of people at the Idu and Kubwa train stations have been racketeering train tickets making it difficult for passengers to have access to tickets, and further sabotaging government efforts to ensure easy transportation across the country.

It said the suspects were arrested in a sting operation at the stations and would soon be charged to court.

In the same vein, operatives of the Kaduna zonal office of the EFCC, acting on intelligence report, also arrested ticket racketeers at the Rigasa train station in Kaduna.

“Investigations revealed that some members of staff of the station in connivance with some touts were defrauding unsuspecting travellers, selling train tickets at a higher rate. For economy ticket of N1, 300 /N1, 500, were sold at a rate of N2, 000 to N5,000 while for first class which goes for N2,500, was being sold for between N7,000 and N15,000.

“Three persons, including a staff of the station and two touts have been arrested.

“The station manager, chief marketing officer and chief parcel booking officer of the Kaduna Railway Station have also been invited for questioning,” the commission said in a statement.