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Many feared kidnapped after Abuja-Kaduna train attack

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By  Derrick Bangura – Following the attack on the Kaduna-Abuja train, about 200 passengers are reportedly kidnapped by the terrorists.

ACCESSSNEWS had earlier reported how some terrorists had on Monday detonated an explosive on the Kaduna-bound train with about 920 passengers onboard.

According to a report by ThisDay, about 200 passengers were kidnapped by the bandits.

One of the eye-witnesses, who had been hauled into one of the small buses brought by the criminals and later escaped.

The eye-witness, who said he could recognise all of them if brought for identification, emphasised the fact that they were not only organised but had a rich network of contacts that made their operations and coordination smooth.

While confirming that they took with them many of the passengers, the number of which he could not verify, he said they targeted VIP coach upon demobilising the train, where he was seated too, and started first by shooting the security men onboard the train.

He noted that there were many security men on the train, who obviously were not on the manifest, because they were not added, stressing further that at least, about six of them might have been killed in the operation, aside the eight passengers, who were not so lucky.

Unfortunately, while the development had sounded the alarm bell across the country and exposing the growing insecurity, Monday’s attack was not the first time that the Kajuru station came under threat by terrorists, who had wanted to make an incursion into that sector of the economy.

They Were Small Boys, Not Nigerians, Who Kept Shouting Allahuhakubar, Survivors Recount Ordeal

However, some of the other survivors of the train attack, have also begun to share their own ordeal too in the hands of their attackers, saying those who attacked them seemed more like non-Nigerians and ‘small boys’ between the ages of 18 and 20, who shouted Allahuhakubar repeatedly as they rained bullets on the train.

Three of the the survivors at the St. Gerald Catholic hospital, however, described their ordeal as horrible.

One of the survivors, Maimuna Ibrahim, who was shot on the thigh, said it was a horrible experience.

“We saw hell. I prayed and prayed and prayed,” she said, adding, “I went to a workshop in Abuja in the morning and I was on my way back to Kaduna that same day after the workshop. I was shot on the thigh. But the bullet did not touch my bone. The bullet penetrated out of my thigh.

“Honestly, we suffered seriously, but thank God soldiers came and they really helped us”, she said, adding that, she was unable to walk after she was shot and soldiers had to carry her out of the train to a vehicle by the expressway.

“I was unable to walk, it was the soldiers, who carried me on the back to the vehicle that brought us to the hospital. They were able to pass over the cliff, carrying us on their backs. Seriously, they tried, because it was not easy climbing the cliff,” she said.

According to her, “The terrorists were moving about in the train, but they did not come to where I was seated. I was hit by the bullet through the window. They entered SP17. As they were shooting, the police security on the train asked us to lie down on the floor of the train so that the bullet will not get at us.

“Unfortunately before I could lie down, the bullet hit me. I saw the terrorists from the window. They were many, they were small boys of between the ages of 18 and 20. They appeared like Fulani. They wore turbans. They don’t look like Nigerians. They were shouting Allahakubar.

“They abducted some people. I saw them forcing people out of the train. They were beating them as they were taking them out of the train.

They were shouting Allahuhakubar, Allahuhakubar as the shot sporadically,” she said.

Speaking too from her hospital bed, another survivor, Fatima Shuaibu, a student of College of Education, Gidan Waya, Kaduna State, said her sister was killed in the attack. She was being treated for dislocation on her right leg.

“My sister, Zainab Awal, was shot on the stomach and she died,” she said amid tears.

Shuaibu said she was seated by the window when she started noticing flashes of touch lights.

Initially, she thought it was the villagers around the area, but when she suddenly heard a loud explosion and the train went off track, she knew there was trouble as her heart started palpitating.

She said, “I was seated by the window in the train. Suddenly, I started seeing flashes of touch light, this was around 8pm. Then, there was a loud bang as if something exploded. Then the train went off track as if was falling down. We started shouting and praying.

“As soon as the train stopped, we started hearing gunshots. The security personnel on the train announced that everybody should lie down on the floor of the train. They attacked the VIP coach, they abducted some people and took them to the bush, they shot other people. They operated for about two hours or so before soldiers and Airforce arrived and they exchanged gunshots.

“The terrorists came with five Sharon buses and motorcycles. Those who were abducted were taken away in the Sharon buses. The terrorists were small boys of between 18 to 20 years. I saw them, they don’t look like Nigerians.

“The soldiers rescued us in the train. Those of us who were injured were evacuated from the train. They climbed the cliff with us and took us to the expressway, where vehicles were brought to carry people.

On his part, also from his hospital bed at St. Gerald, Mohammed Isa, who was shot on his right arm, said the whole episode was like a dream.

“I was seated by the window and they shot me on the right arm. There was an explosion and the train lost control and went off track.

“All of a sudden, they started shooting at the train from afar, then, they started coming closer. When they got to the train, they attempted to force the door open, but they couldn’t. So they shot at the door and it opened.

“They were speaking Hausa. It took quite some time before soldiers came and they exchanged fire with them,” he said, corroborating the accounts of others.

Yusuf Idris, ex- spokesman to Zamfara State’s former deputy governor, said Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala was shot in the leg and was currently receiving treatment in a medical facility in Kaduna.

“He is responding to treatment very well. He is answering phone calls in his bed. I spoke to him and several other people spoke to him also. There is no cause for alarm,” Yusuf said.

At the Army, hospital, journalists were prevented from seeing the victims.

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China Introduces Instant Tax Refunds for Foreign Tourists to Boost Shopping Experience

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China Introduces Instant Tax Refunds for Foreign Tourists to Boost Shopping Experience

China has revamped its tax refund policy for foreign tourists, shifting from a refund-upon-departure model to a more convenient refund-upon-purchase system, according to the State Taxation Administration (STA).

The STA announced on Tuesday that under the new system, foreign visitors can now claim Value Added Tax (VAT) rebates instantly at designated tax-free stores. This change allows tourists to use their refunded amount immediately for additional shopping, enhancing their overall experience in China.

Previously, VAT rebates could only be withdrawn upon departure, but with the new policy, tourists will be able to access their refunds in real-time during their stay. The policy, which was initially tested in cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangdong, has now passed all operational requirements and will be rolled out nationwide.

The STA emphasized its dedication to improving policy guidance and simplifying refund procedures to better serve international visitors.

Li Xuhong, Vice-President and Professor at the Beijing National Accounting Institute, welcomed the change, stating that the nationwide implementation would raise China’s tourism service standards. “It will foster a friendly, efficient, and convenient tourism environment,” Xuhong added.

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Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to One-China Policy Amid Taiwan’s Trade Office Claims

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Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to One-China Policy Amid Taiwan's Trade Office Claims

Rep. Jaafaru Yakubu, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on China-Nigeria Parliamentary Relations, has reiterated Nigeria’s firm commitment to the One-China Policy, following recent comments by Taiwan’s Trade Mission Head in Nigeria, Andy Yih-Ping Liu.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Yakubu firmly declared that Nigeria continues to recognize Taiwan as an integral part of the People’s Republic of China. He rejected Liu’s claim that Taiwan was not part of China, labelling it as “propaganda” aimed at undermining the strong diplomatic ties between Nigeria and China.

“For the record, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, recognised the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of all of China, including Taiwan,” Yakubu stated. “The One-China Policy remains the cornerstone of China-Nigeria relations.”

He emphasized that since Nigeria and China established diplomatic ties in 1971, the country has consistently upheld this principle. “Efforts by Taiwan’s trade office to challenge this stance are futile and will not succeed,” Yakubu added.

Yakubu criticized Liu’s comments as an attempt to draw Nigeria into China’s internal matters, accusing the Taiwanese official of deliberately sowing discord and provoking a diplomatic rift. “Nigeria’s relationship with China is built on mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s political matters,” he said.

In response to Liu’s claim that China acted as a bully, Yakubu pointed to the positive trajectory of Nigeria-China relations. “Contrary to these baseless assertions, Nigeria has enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership with China, yielding tangible results for both nations. Since 1971, our ties have grown significantly.”

He highlighted the strategic nature of the partnership, referencing the elevation of the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the 2024 FOCAC Summit in Beijing. “Today, Nigeria stands as China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade surpassing 20 billion dollars,” Yakubu noted.

Furthermore, Yakubu praised China’s role in Nigeria’s infrastructural development, with investments in sectors such as rail networks, roads, ports, power stations, and water treatment facilities.

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Shettima Warns Media Against Romanticising National Challenges

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Shettima Warns Media Against Romanticising National Challenges

Vice President Kashim Shettima has cautioned Nigerian media practitioners against the growing tendency to romanticise serious national issues, describing the trend as a dangerous departure from the media’s constitutional duty of promoting truth and accountability.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Modibbo Umar, the Vice President issued the warning on Tuesday while delivering a speech at the 17th LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards held at the Old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

“We must resist the temptation to romanticise serious national issues or frame them in ways that distort public understanding,” Shettima said. “Doing so only weakens the fabric of our democracy and derails our collective efforts at nation-building.”

The Vice President’s remarks came as stakeholders in governance, business, and civil society gathered to reflect on the theme of the event, “Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria’s Fiscal Federalism.” The conference provided a platform for thoughtful engagement on some of the country’s most pressing issues, with a focus on the responsibilities of leadership at all levels.

Shettima also used the occasion to commend LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group for its consistent contributions to national discourse and its commitment to celebrating excellence in leadership.

“I commend LEADERSHIP Newspaper for the vision to convene this vital discourse and for shining the light on those who have chosen to lead with courage and competence. May we never tire of striving for a better Nigeria,” he said.

The annual LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards continues to be a major event that brings together influential voices to deliberate on national progress and honour individuals and institutions making meaningful impact in society.

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