Two Years Later, Suspected Mastermind Of Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack In Police Net

• The Abuja-Kaduna train attack occurred on March 28, 2022.

• The attack led to the death and kidnap of many passengers.

• Two years later, the police say they have arrested a crucial suspect.

Eko Hot Blog reports that Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says its operatives have arrested the suspected mastermind of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as Mande.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed the development at a news conference in Kaduna on Thursday.

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Recall that the attack occurred in March 2022 after terrorists had planted explosive devices along the Abuja-Kaduna rail track. When the train approached the point, the device exploded, causing the train to derail, leading to the death of eight passengers.

A day after the attack, another passenger who suffered from a gunshot wound died, making it nine, the total number of those killed in that attack.

On Thursday, the police spokesperson said the suspected mastermind was arrested at the Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction.

Adejobi said Mande confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorising Kaduna-Abuja highway.

Furthermore, the police spokesman revealed that the suspect had participated in various kidnapping incidents including the kidnapping incident at Green Field University in addition to participating in almost all the kidnappings along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

He also disclosed that the suspect had also participated in the abduction of students from Greenfield University in 2021.

Moreover, Adejobi revealed that police operatives also arrested another notorious kidnap gang leader who masterminded the September 2023 attack on the Saint Raphael Catholic Church at Fadan Kamantan where a seminarian and the church were burnt to ashes.

“Regrettably, the suspects had already set ablaze the priest’s residence before the arrival of the authorities,” he said.

“Despite the valiant efforts of operatives, one seminarian Stephen Naaman tragically lost his life in the inferno, and property worth millions of Naira, including a Honda vehicle and a motorcycle, were consumed by the fire.

“However, due to diligence and tireless pursuit of the issue by the police, on the 22nd of March, 2024 one Yakubu Saidu, the mastermind and leader of the notorious kidnapping gang, was apprehended and he confessed to his involvement in the heinous crime.”

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In February 2023, troops also arrested an unnamed suspected, describing him as one of the “masterminds” of the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train.

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