At least 7 dead after suspected bandits attack train in northern Nigeria: Report

At least seven people were killed andseveralwere missingaftersuspected banditsattacked apassengertrainheaded to the northernNigerian city of Kaduna from the capital Abuja on Monday night, apassengerand a security source said.

Suspected bandits blew rail tracks and exchanged fire with security officials aboard thetrain, the second such incident since October that highlights growing insecurity in Africa's most populous nation.

TheNigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said in a statement on Tuesday it had temporarily suspended services on the Abuja-Kaduna route following theattack, which took place some 30 minutes from Kaduna.

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Two NRC workers and five security personnel were killed whengunmenopened fire on thetrain, apassengerand member of Kaduna's security service told Reuters.

A Kaduna police spokesman did not respond to calls and text messages seeking comment.

Kaduna security services were expected to hold a media briefing media later on Tuesday, local television stations reported.

Kaduna-based journalist Yusuf Atta said his mother and sister were on thetrainand were not accounted for as of Tuesday morning.

Most of the more than 900passengers were taken from the scene of theattackon buses to Kaduna as deployed security forces kept watch on thetrain, relatives of thepassengers told Reuters.

An unknown number ofpassengers wereinjuredand receiving treatment at a local hospital, Kaduna state internal security ministry said.

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