Hang on train, face attempted suicide charge — NRC

Nigeria Railway Corporation has told those who hang on trains not to blame their criminal actions on shortage of coaches. It said those arrested would be charged with attempted suicide.

The corporation decried the unrepentant attitude of railway passengers to warnings on the risk it posed to their lives.

An online news portal, Sahara Reporters, had reported on Wednesday that a passenger, who hanged on a train, had fallen off and died at the Ikeja station while trying to evade arrest by police.

Some of the passengers had blamed the development on inadequate coaches.

While denying knowledge of the incident, the Assistant Director, Public Relations, NRC, David Ndakotsu, told our correspondent on Friday that most of the passengers, particularly in Lagos were unruly.

While he admitted that there was a shortage of coaches to convey passengers, whose number was increasing, he however faulted the passenger for being impatient.

He said this was why railway police often raid, arrest and prosecute rail traffic offenders.

“We charge them with attempted suicide. Anybody hanging on the train or sitting on the roof is assumed as planning to kill themselves. The charge for that is attempted suicide,” the NRC spokesperson stated.

Ndakotsu also noted that the corporation would not be responsible for any injuries or death of those who hang on trains.

“If we experience a shortage of coaches, is that the reason why passengers should misbehave? We keep telling them and that is why we placed the trains on hourly schedule. If a train is congested, you wait for the next one.

“We want everybody to be  comfortable. If you hang and anything happens on the train; in case there is any eventuality, you are not covered by insurance. If you buy your ticket and you’re sitting in the train, if there is any eventuality, the corporation will take responsibility through an insurance policy.”

Ndakotsu explained that trains begin movement at 5am and they get to stations every hour. He advised passengers to wait for the next train whenever the current one is full.

He added that the government was addressing the challenge. He said while more coaches had been ordered the corporation was rehabilitating the damaged ones.

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