Criminals with suspected links to commercial drivers plying the Port Harcourt-Aba have deliberately removed some metals from the train track to sabotage train and avoid competition from the trains this yuletide.
Press sources say 30 persons were injured on Tuesday, as train traveling to Port Harcourt on high speed from Aba skied off the track as a result of the vandalized rail tracks.
Port Harcourt based sports journalist, Sopirinye Jaja who reported the incidence on his Twitter handle said : “There was no oil mill market on Wednesday because of the Christmas. The accident occurred on Tuesday. it was initially believed to have been rail thieves, but upon arriving at the scene, the train tracks were removed and kept out and not stolen to frustrate train.”
“Thank God no death.. Most low income business people now use train to Aba instead commercial bus. the tracks were not stolen, but removed to stop train.. Sabotage.”
Where they are functional, train services have become an option for travelers and businesses people, especially during the Christmas and new year celebrations when mini bus drivers overshoot fares, causing more hardship on low income earners.
©Frnews