TRAIN ACCIDENT CLAIMS WOMAN’S LIFE IN KUBWA

…FCTA Commiserates with Victims Family

By: Prudence Okonna

A train accident has claimed the life of a woman identified as Hajia Selimat Idowu along the rail lines within Chikakore community in the Byazhin district of Kubwa, in Bwari Area Council of the FCT.

According to an eyewitness who is, also the Head of Vigilante in the community, Shandam Michael, said the unfortunate accident occurred at 9 am Thursday, while the deceased was driving to work.

Michael added that the middle-aged woman, was a civil servant and was a lone occupant of a Toyota Camry when the accident occurred. The vehicle developed fault while trying to cross the only access road in and out of the community when the train rammed into her vehicle.

The Vigilante further narrated that the KA2 train which was said to be coming from Kaduna didn’t blare any horn while approaching the community with over three hundred households and then dragged the crushed vehicle for about one kilometer when his men pursued the train to a halt and retrieved the fatally injured woman from the car which was completely crushed.

In an interview with Abuja Digest, the Chairman of Chikakore community, Ismail Yusuf lamented that this is not the first time an accident such as this was happening, adding that a pregnant woman was killed in the same manner last year.

He pleaded with the government to come to their aid by providing an overhead bridge for the community members to commute seamlessly.

While conducting an on-the-spot assessment, after receiving a distress call on behalf of the Director-General, Acting Director Forecasting Response, and Mitigation, FEMA, Florence Wenegieme noted that based on its observations, it will take back reports to the Administration for intervention.

Wenegieme Commiserated with the family of the deceased on behalf of the FCT Administration and assured that to reduce future occurrences of such nature, the Authorities will work on providing a draw bridge and red flag on both sides of the road to stop people when a train is approaching. She added that eventually there will be an overhead bridge but the work will be in phases.

She also emphasized that FEMA will coordinate all relevant Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies to work out all the necessary modalities to commence work as soon as possible.