On his way to Lagos for the 13th Tinubu Colloquium marking former Lagos State Gov’s 70th birthday, VP had to detour to Kaduna this afternoon on receiving news of the extent of human & material losses occasioned by yesterday’s dastardly attack on the Abuja-Kaduna railway route.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The attack on Monday evening by terrorists on a train conveying passengers from Abuja to Kaduna continued to elicit fierce indignation on Tuesday and the shock is being felt around the country.
Former Lagos State governor and presidential aspirant, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, cancelled his 70th birthday colloquium scheduled to hold today.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was on his way to attend the occassion, meanwhile, headed for Kaduna, instead, to see things for himself.
The attack was brazen and unprecedented.
While some fatalities, including an overseas-bound medical doctor, Chinelo Megafu, have been reported, many passengers were also injured and several others were kidnapped by the assailants.
The bandits attacked the train around Dutse axis in Kaduna, just a few kilometres to the Rigasa Train Station in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has arrived Kaduna State to offer support and visit victims of the attack by terrorists on an Abuja-Kaduna passenger train.
READ ALSO: Mayhem as terrorists bomb Kaduna-Abuja rail track, derail train, abduct passengers
His spokesman Laolu Akande said Osinbajo, who was already on his way to Lagos for the 13th colloquium in commemoration of the 70th birthday of All Progressives Congress stalwart, Tinubu, made a detour to Kaduna on Tuesday afternoon after receiving the disturbing report of terrorists attack.
Akande tweeted: “On his way to Lagos for the 13th Tinubu Colloquium marking former Lagos State Gov’s 70th birthday, VP had to detour to Kaduna this afternoon on receiving news of the extent of human & material losses occasioned by yesterday’s dastardly attack on the Abuja-Kaduna railway route.”
Osinbajo was received at Kaduna Airport by Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
He is expected to visit victims of the attacks at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital and Saint Gerald’s Catholic hospital in the Kaduna State capital.
Meanwhile, Tinubu has cancelled the 13th birthday colloquium in honour of victims of the Kaduna-Abuja train attack.
Tinubu, who announced the cancellation a few minutes after the official kick-up of the event, described it as a national tragedy.
He said: “I am very sad about the situation and it calls for sober reflection,” before cancelling the event, which already attracted many important dignitaries.