Armed group abducts 32 people from southern Nigeria train station
Al JazeeraNov 25, 2022
The Facts
Nigeria's Edo state governor's office stated on Sunday that a group of men armed with AK-47s had attacked the Tom Ikimi train station, some 111 km (69 mi) northeast of the state capital Benin City. The attackers reportedly abducted 32 people.
Armed herdsmen allegedly attacked the station as passengers waited for a train to Warri, an oil hub in nearby Delta state. Police added that the attackers shot multiple people while at the station and one of those kidnapped managed to escape.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Nigerian government is doing a solid job of pursuing these terrorists. Considering that six people have already been freed in such a short time, it seems reasonable to assume that local authorities are achieving success in search and rescue operations.
Establishment-critical narrative
As elections approach, security has become a hot topic in Nigeria as the government has failed to provide public safety. This attack could have been prevented if railway stations had small security features like closed-circuit television cameras — minor steps that would have made a great difference.
