A Kano to Lagos passenger train on Sunday crushed a commercial motorcyclist and his passenger to death in llorin.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who witnessed the incident, reports that the tragedy occurred along Kangu-lle-Araromi road in the llorin West Local Government Area.
The train crushed the motorcyclist and his passenger, a middle-aged woman, when the motorcyclist tried to cross the rail line around 11 a.m.
The train later stopped some metres from the spot of the accident but there was nothing anybody could do as the victims had died instantly.
Hundreds of people, including motorists and commercial motorcyclists, trooped to the scene of the accident to catch a glimpse of the victims.
Some residents, including children, burst into tears when they sighted the lifeless bodies of the victims.
Some members of the commercial motorcyclist association at the gate of the Michael lmoudu lnstitute of Labour, identified the motorcyclist as one of their members.
Policemen from the Ganmo Police Station later evacuated the two bodies.
Officials of the Ilorin office of the Nigeria Railway Corporation were not in their offices when NAN correspondent visited the office for comments.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Police Command, Mr Samuel Okasanmi, said the command would investigate the cause of the incident. (NAN)
Tag: TRAIN
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Train crushes 2 to death in Kwara
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Group to train 50,000 youths
The Forum of South-South Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (FOSSCIMA) plans to train over 50,000 youths in the region.
The Southsouth comprises Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.
Fosscima President Billy Gillis-Harry said the forum would train over 50,000 unemployed youths and empower them on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
The forum will hold its first-ever regional International Trade Fair in Port Harcourt in April.
“It is a four components trade fair. One, is for campaign of peace and security in the zone. It is for economic progress of the region and we are going to utilise the trade fair to register over 50,000 unemployed youths across the Southsouth zone and see how best the forum can help in training and empowerment. Lastly, it is the trade fair itself,” he said.
He regretted that many youths now engage in armed robbery, kidnapping, car snatching, illegal bunkering and fuel sales, and illegal importation of arms, most of which have reached alarming levels in several Nigerian cities.
In the Southsouth zone especially, Harry bemoaned that youths have formed different gangs engaged in kidnapping, blowing up of oil pipelines, raping, oil bunkering and operation of illegal refineries, among other criminal activities.
“Hundreds of jobless and poor youths have died from explosions trying to scoop petrol from broken oil pipelines or overturned oil tankers,” he said.
Harry said over 500 companies from across the country and the West African sub-region would participate at the event which he is optimistic would be one of the best trade fairs in Nigeria.
According to him, renowned corporate groups from the European Union will equally grace the event as the foreign firms have duly expressed their readiness to participate in the fair.
He said: “The 1st South-South International Trade Fair is a multidimensional trade fair which will provide an ideal and perfect business matchmaking platform for manufacturer, importers, service providers, investors and visitors to meet and discuss business opportunities.”
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Train crushes man to death in Kano
A man suspected to be drunk was on Wednesday night crushed to death by moving train in Sharada area in Kano.
An eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Thursday that the incident happened around 8:00 pm.
According to the witness, who requested anonymity, the deceased might have slept off on the rail track when the moving train crushed him to death.
NAN learnt that residents of the area saw the mutilated remains of the man the following morning.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, DSP Magaji Majiya, said the matter was yet to be officially reported to the police.
He said that he heard of the incident from people who called to find out from him.
Majiya said he had directed the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area to investigate the matter.
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India: Newborn baby survives fall through train toilet
A baby delivered inside the lavatory of an Indian train slipped through the toilet bowl to fall on rail tracks but survived.
Police officer, Anil Sirohi said on Wednesday in New Delhi that a pregnant woman had labour pains while travelling on Monday on the train in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
He said that the 23-year-old went to the toilet and delivered a baby girl that slipped out and onto the tracks from the train.
“Passengers on the train heard her cries for help and pulled the emergency chain to bring the train to a halt.
“Moments later they ran toward the baby and found it was alive,’’ he said.
The officer said that the railway police moved both mother and child to a nearby hospital.
Railway official, Chandra Mohan-Jindal, said it was a miracle that the newborn girl survived after falling on concrete boulders of the track from such a height.“Fortunately the train was not at a great speed as it had just begun its journey from the railway station.
Mohan-Jindal said that it was the second such incident in India this year.
“In February, a baby born in a train toilet survived a similar fall onto the tracks in the Rajasthan state.
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Passengers injured as train hits truck
Scores of passengers were injured yesterday when an overcrowded Lagos-bound train from Ogun State collided with a refuse truck at the Shogunle Railway Crossing around 8a.m.
The truck had tried to rush through the railway crossing before the train got there.
Seeing that the track was partially blocked by the truck, the train driver reduced his speed, thereby reducing the collision’s impact.
But, the train hit the rear of the truck, which was still on the track, injuring some passengers.
The truck rammed into the crossing barrier, which also hit a nearby electric pole.
Many quickly rushed down to assist the injured.
The passengers hailed the driver for preventing the train from derailing, as it continued to the Shogunle Station where some of them alighted and others on boarded.
Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) Director of Operation Mr Niyi Alli, later told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the truck has been impounded and taken to the corporation’s headquarters at Ebute Meta Junction.
“The owner of the vehicle too is liable for the cost of damage, although, we are yet to ascertain the cost of damage,’’ Alli said.
NAN learnt that a Lagos-bound train from Ijoko in Ogun derailed at Iju Station last Friday.
The derailment disrupted services for the day as hundreds of passengers were stranded at the Iddo terminus in Lagos.
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Train kills two in Kwara
A train yesterday killed two drivers in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The deceased were on queue near a filling station.
The incident reportedly occurred at a rail line near Sango.
It was learnt that the train crushed the two drivers as they were attempting to run out of a taxi parked on the rail line.
An eyewitness said the drivers were crushed inside the cab, while people at the filling station watched helplessly.
Police spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi did not confirm the incident, saying he had not been briefed.
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Enyeama, Wilfred Ndidi train with Eagles
Vincent Enyeama, who has been stripped of the Eagles captaincy, trained with the rest of the Eagles squad in Belgium on Wednesday, same as late invitee Wilfred Ndidi.
Contrary to some media reports, Enyeama did not quit the Eagles camp in Belgium after his major fall-out with coach Sunday Oliseh on Tuesday night.
NFF president Amaju Pinnick had also reassured that Enyeama will train with the rest of the squad notwithstanding the row of the previous day.
Genk defender Ndidi, on the other hand, was a late call-up after six players from the domestic league were yet to be issued visas to Belgium.
Another late call-up Dele Alampasu was expected to hit the team’s hotel later Wednesday after AfricanFootball.com was told he had called from the airport in Lisbon, Portugal, he was on his way.
Today’s match against DR Congo will kick off at 7pm inside the VISE Stadium, and will be the first between both countries’ senior teams in five-and-half-years. on Saturday as he scored in a 3-2 loss at Union Berlin.
Duisburg are now bottom of the 18-team league with two points from nine games.
The former Chievo Verona player was just appearing for the second time for the team and he has registered a goal to prove his quality.
Nsofor pounced on a pass in the 56th minute to take the game to 3-1.
His compatriot Kingsley Onuegbu, a 67th minute substitute for Martin Dausch, scored Duisburg’s second goal in the 84th minute.
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NIOB to train 200,000 artisans
The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) said it plans to train 200,000 building workers across the country.
Its President, Tijjani Shuaibu made this known in Abuja, after he was sworn-in.
He said the introduction of the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF), which empowers the institute to certify artisans and craftsmen, further lend credence to the programme.
He said: “With the approval from NBTE, the assessment and certification board, which has just been established is expected to train, assess and certify 200,000 artisans within the next 12 months.
“Towards this end, skill training centres are to be established in all six geo-political zones while all state chapters will have to be fully equipped and active in the recruitment and basic skills training to prepare their candidates for assessment and certification.”
“Membership drive for all cadres will have to be stepped up in order that professional members are not overwhelmed by the expected massive influx of competent and certified artisans into the industry,’’ he added.
Shuaibu, therefore, gave a wakeup call to NIOB members to acquire basic training to supervise these new breed of artisans and benefit from the significant incremental income they can generate as trainers, training providers, assessors and verifiers.
“To drive this, we have entered into a tripartite collaboration with CORBON and the DFID sponsored construction skills training and empowerment project C-STEmp with its foreign partners to train 120 masters’ trainers, 1000 trainers and assessors,’’ said the NIOB president.
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Shell to train 150 Niger Delta youths
Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) operated Joint Venture, said 150 youths from the Niger Delta are to benefit from its 2015 LiveWIRE programme, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over 6,000 since the launch of the programme in 2003.
LiveWIRE is a flagship youth enterprise development programme which provides access to training, business development services and start-up capital.
“LiveWIRE presents a good opportunity for bright young people to bring their ideas to fruition,” said SPDC’s General Manager External Relations, Igo Weli. “We are pleased to see the youths transform to employers of labour after going through intensive business training that is reinforced with theoretical and practical sessions.”
The two-week training slated for September will be held for the selected youths in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states. Media Relations Manager of Shell, Mr. Precious Okolobo, said in a statement that the programme is open to university and polytechnic graduates with innovative business ideas from the three states.
The curriculum includes business planning and management and post start-up mentoring, incubation and market linkages. Successful candidates will be linked to third parties such as Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), banks, and allied financial institutions and provided a volunteer mentoring programme.
Okolobo said in 2014, the Livewire scheme was broadened to include a specific focus on people with physical impairments. Some 180 physically challenged people had already benefited from training and grants. Shell Companies in Nigeria work with government, communities and civil society to implement programmes that have a lasting impact on lives in the Niger Delta and beyond. “Social investment activities are focused in particular on community and enterprise development, education and health,” he added.
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Train kills middle age woman in Lagos
An unidentified middle age woman was killed by an Ido bound train Thursday afternoon.
The accident occurred at Cappa bus stop rail line around 12:30pm. Scores of sympathizers gathered around the victim and watched as the woman gradually gave up the ghost.
According to eye witnesses who spoke to The Nation, the woman seemed to have been lost in thought as she stood on the railway track while the train approached.
One of those who hanged on the train was said to have stoned her, shouting to get her off the railtrack.
An eyewitness identified as Iyabo spoke about the moment of collision.
“I was here (side of the track) and the woman crossed onto the rail track. She just stood there lost in thought and somebody from the train stoned her, we all shouted at her to get out but she did not until she was hit.”
But another witness said the train did not horn until it got very close to the victim thereby ensuring the accident was inevitable.
But Iyabo’s account has also opened another dimension to the accident with some claiming the victim was on a suicide mission.
“There is no way a train will come on the tracks and you will not know by the vibrations on the rail. They stoned and shouted at her but she refused to leave, what do you call that if not suicide?” a man said.
Meanwhile emergency and rescue services operators have been blamed for failure to respond to calls when the accident happened.
When The Nation arrived at the scene about 20 minutes after the accident, the body of the victim still lay on the track with blood oozing out of the nose. This action prompted the believe that the victim might still be alive and prompt medicare could save her life.
” We have called Lagos emergency number several times and they promised to come yet refused to show up, nobody was ready to help,” a Lagos State Traffic Management Agency ( LASTMA) official said.
Another LASTMA official accused the traffic police of neglecting the victim immediately the accident occured.
“Immediately it happened, I told the policemen to let us move the woman, but they refused, maybe we would have saved her life,” he said.
For over 30 minutes after the accident, the various government agencies still did not show up at the scene while sympatizers gathered around the now obviously dead body with broken hands and leg and severe injury to the head.