T he death of Selimota Suleiman, a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) recently on the rail track in Kubwa has continued to generate blames from the federal government and the community. The federal government has faulted motorists for illegally crossing train tracks, insisting that there was no crossing at the spot when the train crushed Selimota.
Reacting to the incident and the unfortunate death of Selimota, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC), Yakubu Mahmood said there are two constructed over passes at different locations within the Kubwa- Abuja environs for ease and safety of crossing railway lines of Abuja-Kaduna train service.
He further said, “Motorists have been for reasons best known to them, avoiding those two under passes and instead, resort to using illegally constructed level crossings which have been in recent times fatal as a result of collision by the moving trains.
“NRC management hereby enjoins motorists and other road users to always use the two constructed under passes for their safety, instead of the illegal level crossings that portray great risks and danger to their lives and properties.
“The federal government policy on railway modernisation is ensuring safety of motorists and trains, through construction of over passes in all railway line constructions.”
One of the residents of the community, Donald Godsent said Selimota’s death brings the number of train victims to six. He also cited an example where one of the victims, a woman was hit by the train, to lay dead by the corner of the track. Godsent, also said there have been car crashed on that interchange.
However, another resident, Pastor George Odia, said the underpass is not useable because the road leading there is not motorable during raining season. The managing director/CEO, of the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okhiria said the spot is not a level crossing and when the NRC tried to block the illegal road, the community resisted it.
He also pointed out that the federal government provided an underpass, which serves as an alternate route, but motorists within the community refused to use it and continued crossing the train track. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has said they are investigating the incident.
Spokesperson of the FCT Police, DSP. Josephine Adeh, while confirming the unfortunate incident and the ongoing investigation, said the victim was said to have been crushed to death by the train, after the car failed to drive quickly across the rail line before the arrival of the train as it sped by.
According to her, “Upon receipt of the information, crime scene investigators attached to the Byazin divisional police headquarters drifted swiftly to the scene, took charge of the situation, where the victim was confirmed dead by medical practitioner on ground. Investigation has commenced by the Railway division having jurisdiction over the track.”
