The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) routinely monitors trains, according to Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, but inclement weather disrupted air monitoring on the day of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Gunmen detonated a bomb on the rail track and began shooting at people.
Several persons were murdered, scores were injured by gunshots, and others were reported missing.
When he visited patients at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna on Wednesday, he said the air force had begun monitoring as part of efforts to bolster security procedures.
He noted that additional equipments will be procured before the Abuja-Kaduna Train begins operations again.
In his words, "But even if we don’t install, we have spoken with the Nigerian Air Force. The Nigerian Air Force used to escort the train, but for the past one or two weeks, they said the weather has been so bad that they can’t fly,” according to NAN.
“They said it’s below 500 and if it’s below 500, they will run into an accident. So, they have not been flying. That is why this attack was successful.
"They said they have resumed flying now and any time we are ready to travel, they will have to escort the train.
“Two, the president has already approved — even though the documents are with the ministry of finance — that we should employ people who will be working on the tracks for the next six to seven months, within which we should have been able to install the equipment.
“So, we intend to employ villagers that will be working on the track. If they see anything they suspect, they should let us know so that we can let the security know.
“All these are measures we will take until we install the security equipment.”
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