TUC secretary-general killed in Abuja-Kaduna train attack

Musa-Lawal Ozigi(pictured), secretary-general of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), was killed during the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train on Monday.

Akin Akinsola, Kwara state chairman of TUC, was also said to have been killed during the incident.

TheCable had reported how gunmen attacked the train which was on its way to Kaduna from Abuja.

Confirming the death of the TUC officials, Quadri Olaleye, president of the union, said they were heading to Kaduna for an official assignment. 

“Comrade Ozigi served in the capacity of General Secretary, Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA), an affiliate of TUC for almost two decades before he joined the Congress in 2012,” the statement reads. 

“Comrade Akinsola was a staff of Dangote Flour Mill under OLAM. They were both seasoned Trade Unionists.”

The union called on governments at all levels, especially the federal government, to work towards securing the lives and property of Nigerians.

“As it stands, nowhere is safe now – we can not travel by air, road is not safe and neither is the rail. Is Nigeria a failed state? It is unfortunate,” TUC said. 

“The Congress condoles with the families and friends of our comrades and the good people of Kogi State for this irreparable loss.”

The number of casualties from the attack has not yet been determined, but among those killed are Chinelo Megafo, a dental surgeon, and Isa Kofar-Mata, a director at the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

TheCable had also reported that Alwan Hassan, acting managing director/chief executive officer of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), has been unreachable since the attack.

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the “immediate conclusion” of the implementation of the security surveillance and monitoring solution for the rail line.