Kaduna train attacks: Amaechi under attack over latest comments

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has come under severe criticism over his latest comment on bandits’ attacks on a Kaduna-bound train from Abuja.

Amaechi had earlier said he had warned that the government needed helicopters, drones, and other technologies to protect the rail tracks in Nigeria.

The former Rivers State governor spoke while inspecting the site of the bombing of the rail line between the Katari and Rijana train station along the Kaduna-Abuja route.

He had said, “What we need is a technology that lets you know that there are human activities or foreign activities on the track, that way, you can secure the locomotive and secure lives and I had warned earlier that it is important they get us this approval because human lives would be involved. Since that warning till today, we have had two incidents.”

However, reacting to Amaechi’s comment, Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, said the minister cannot warn Nigerians, adding that his statement was insensitive.

Omokri wrote on Twitter on Wednesday: “This is the most insensitive statement I have read about the Abuja-Kaduna train bombing. How can Amaechi say he warned? Who is responsible for rail? Is it not Amaechi? I can’t warn.

“The man on the street can warn. Amaechi should not warn. He should have prevented!”

Recall that bandits had attacked a Kaduna-bound train a few days ago.