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Ticketing: Black Marketers Takeover As Abuja-Kaduna Train Services Drop To Single Trip Daily

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Passengers using the Abuja-Kaduna train service have expressed concern over the continued reduction in train operations along the corridor.

 

The route, which at one time recorded about five trips daily from both ends, has now been reduced to a single trip, forcing passengers to compete for the limited tickets amid allegations of black-market racketeering.

This is in addition to the suspension of operations every Wednesday to allow for maintenance of train engines and the rail tracks.

According to report, the latest reduction began penultimate Friday, one of the four days when the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) previously operated two trips because of high passenger demand from both Abuja and Kaduna.

Before the development, the NRC operated two trips on Fridays and Saturdays from Abuja, while similar schedules were maintained on Sundays and Mondays from Kaduna to cater to the high number of passengers travelling to and from the Federal Capital Territory for weekend activities.

Sources at the Kubwa Train Station said he the reduction became necessary after one of the two locomotives serving the route developed a mechanical fault.

“As you may know, each train operates with two engines – one at the front of the coaches and another at the rear,” one source said.

“The front engine powers the train to its destination, while the rear engine is used for the return journey. Each engine also serves as a backup for the other.

“With one of the engines currently faulty, we have had to reduce operations to a single trip daily because it would be risky to operate two trips using only one engine.”

The situation has compounded the challenges faced by travellers, making tickets increasingly difficult to obtain through both online and over-the-counter channels.

Passengers currently purchase tickets under three categories – economy, business class and executive – with different prices for online and physical purchases.

Economy tickets purchased online 48 hours before departure cost about N4,000, while over-the-counter tickets, when available shortly before departure, cost N3,500.

Business class tickets cost N7,000 online and N6,500 over the counter, while executive class tickets sell for N13,000 online and N12,000 at station counters.

Speaking on the development, a passenger, Comrade Adamu Abdulmumini, who travels along the corridor twice weekly, said the purpose for which the rail service was established had gradually been undermined since the end of the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, under whom the service was inaugurated.

He alleged that the ticketing system now resembles a black-market operation.

“Passengers find it almost impossible to secure tickets online because the portal hardly works, while over-the-counter tickets are sold only a few minutes before departure, if they are available at all,” he said.

“Instead, people are advised to buy tickets from individuals outside the station, who sell them at exorbitant prices.

“Because passengers are desperate to travel by train, many have no choice but to buy from these people, who may be staff members or agents.”

He added that such tickets often bear names different from those of the actual passengers using them.

Another passenger, Abigail Gani, said she spent almost a week trying unsuccessfully to obtain an online ticket before finally securing one for Saturday’s trip last Friday.

According to her, economy tickets that officially cost between N3,500 and N4,000 are resold on the black market for between N5,000 and N10,000.

Another commuter, Ismaila Idris, said repeated attempts to buy tickets online had resulted in his account being debited several times without successful bookings.

“The same thing happened to my wife. After reporting the issue, the management told her the problem was with her bank.

“The bank promised to refund the money if it was responsible, but she has yet to receive the refund,” he said.

Another passenger, Thank-God Aya, who travelled from Mararaba in Nasarawa State to the Kubwa Train Station, said he was disappointed after being informed that over-the-counter tickets were unavailable.

Similarly, Abraham Jacob said he waited for ticket sales to commence but was unable to secure one.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the NRC were unsuccessful.

The Kubwa Train Station Manager, Shedrack Kure, declined to comment, saying he was not authorised to speak to the media on matters relating to train operations.

However, another official at the station, who requested anonymity, said the Abuja-Kaduna rail service was facing serious operational challenges, including inadequate locomotives and coaches.

A source at the Federal Ministry of Transportation also said about N5 billion would be required to fully revamp the corridor.

“Even if 10 trips were operated daily from both ends of the corridor, they would still attract enough passengers,” the source said.

“There was an attempt to move an additional locomotive from Lagos, where it is currently at an NRC warehouse, but the plan has yet to receive approval due to a lack of political will.”

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Court Arraigns Journalist In Benue

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A Benue State High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Abounu, has arraigned the Benue State correspondent of Aljazirah Newspaper, Henry Ibya, in Makurdi over alleged cyberstang.

 

The trial judge had sought the prosecution’s response to the defendant’s argument that the journalist was reliable and should be granted bail.

The absence of the prosecution counsel in court did not stop the proceedings, as the defendant’s counsel, Tom Uja, Esq., notified the court of his bail application for his client.

He stated that the prosecution had taken the journalist to two other courts in the state on the same charge and that his client had never failed to appear in court whenever required.

Although the prosecutor’s absence did not affect the judge’s decision to proceed and grant bail, which was also believed to be in the interest of justice, the matter was adjourned until November 5, 2026.

One Terna Abuul, said to be the Director of ICT at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, reported Henry Ibya to the Nigeria Police Force, Benue State Command.

The director had accused the journalist of allegedly reporting mismanagement in the institution’s ICT department.

According to Abuul, Ibya’s report accused him of wrongdoing.

On the strength of the said report, the journalist was arraigned before the High Court in Makurdi.

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64 Dead, 80 Injured As Two High-Speed Trains Collide

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At least 64 people have been killed and dozens seriously injured after two high-speed trains collided near Urda, south of Madrid, in one of Spain’s deadliest rail disasters in more than a decade.

 

The Castilla-La Mancha regional government confirmed the death toll as emergency crews continued rescue operations at the crash site. More than 500 passengers were travelling on the two trains involved, according to a regional government spokesperson.

The BBC reports that the collision of the two trains involved a Renfe high-speed train and an Iryo service operating on the Madrid-to-Seville route. Aerial images analysed by the broadcaster showed parts of the Renfe train leaving the tracks, while carriages of the Iryo train also derailed.

The cause of the collision had not been officially confirmed. However, Spanish media cited preliminary accounts suggesting that the Renfe train struck the Iryo service, which may have been stationary following a problem on the tracks.

The scale of the disaster prompted a major emergency response involving ambulances, helicopters, rescue teams and police officers. At least 80 people were reported injured, with about 50 believed to be in serious condition and 15 in critical condition, according to regional officials.

Several victims were transported to hospitals in nearby areas, while others were taken to Madrid for treatment. Hospitals in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan reportedly suspended planned surgeries to accommodate casualties from the crash.

Blood transfusion centres in Madrid and Toledo also appealed for urgent donations to meet a possible surge in demand.

Survivors described scenes of panic and severe destruction. One passenger, Sebastián Herrero, told Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he felt a powerful impact that threw him into the seats ahead. He said injured passengers had broken noses and arms, while smoke spread through the carriages.

Another passenger, Iñaki, told El País that the impact sent him rolling across the floor. After escaping, he saw injured people and bodies around the wreckage.

BBC Verify also examined images and videos appearing to show a section of railway track piercing through a Renfe carriage, with approximately 10 metres of rail protruding through its roof.

The disaster has revived concerns about railway safety in Spain, which suffered another deadly high-speed rail accident near Córdoba in which 46 people died. The country’s previous worst rail disaster occurred in July 2013, when 80 people were killed in a derailment near Santiago de Compostela.

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was shocked by the crash and remained in contact with the transport minister. The Spanish royal family also expressed condolences to victims’ relatives and praised emergency workers.

Meanwhile, the Royal Spanish Football Federation postponed 24 Copa del Rey matches in solidarity with the victims, while most political parties suspended campaign activities.

Rescue and recovery operations continued as authorities worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision.

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Police Arrest Suspected Eiye Cultist, Recover Two Pistols, Cartridges In Ogun

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Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Squad of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 26-year-old suspected cultist and recovered two locally made pistols, three live cartridges and a battle axe in the Atan area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council of the state.

 

The suspect, identified as Okiki Muhammed Adewusi, popularly known as “Baba Obo”, was arrested in the Ore area of Atan on October 26, 2026, following intelligence received by operatives of SWAT Base 7, Abule Iroko, Sango-Ota.

The Police Spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrest in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday.

According to Babaseyi, a search of the suspect’s residence after his arrest led to the recovery of a locally made pistol and three live cartridges.

He added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had allegedly admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

Babaseyi said information obtained from the suspect led to a follow-up operation at about 6.30 a.m. on October 27, 2026 during which operatives recovered a second locally made pistol and a battle axe from a separate location.

The recovered items have been secured as exhibits, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects believed to be involved in the activities and recover additional weapons.

The police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the case.

The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the SWAT operatives for their vigilance, professionalism and effective use of intelligence.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks, curbing cult-related activities and tackling the illegal possession of firearms across the state.

He urged residents to provide timely and credible information about suspected criminal activities, assuring them that the Command would act on actionable intelligence to protect lives and property and maintain public safety.

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