The Kogi State Police Command on Sunday confirmed that all the passengers of the train that derailed in a Kogi State forest have been safely evacuated.
The Command’s Commissioner, Akeem Yusuf, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lokoja.
The ill fated train reportedly plying the Warri-Itakpe route derailed between Ajaokuta and Itakpe towns, making the passengers to be stranded.
It was said to had left Warri early morning of Sunday, but got derailed at around 12pm inside the forest, a situation which reportedly instilled fear in the passengers.
But Yusuf said: “When we got the destress call, I immediately dispatched a rescue team that rushed to the forest to give them cover.
“We didn’t take the report with laxity, but ensured that the passengers and the train crew got the desired security cover.
“Our plans were to ensure no criminal element took advantage of the situation to do anything funny and God helping us, nothing funny happened.
“I can boldly tell you that all the passengers have been evacuated to safety without any cause for alarm.”
Yusuf said that what was left at the scene was the wagons of the train, but all the passengers were made to proceed with their journey without any hindrance.
The police boss commended his officers and men that successfully conducted the rescue operation alongside other security operatives in the state.
