In a statement, the state government’s commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the items were handed over to the state government by military officials who had gathered them from within and around the area during search operations following the incident.

Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i thanked the military authorities for their careful handling and documentation of the items, comprising over 100 pieces of luggage, valuables, gadgets, and personal effects.

Aruwan said nine persons had already collected their items after presenting proof at the point of recovery.

“The remaining belongings, received with a detailed inventory, will be carefully stored. A system for the receipt of claims will be communicated to the public subsequently,” the statement added,

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says the attacked Abuja-Kaduna train had a seating capacity and couldn’t have had 970 passengers as alleged in the media.

The managing director of NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, who clarified Abuja, said: “The Abuja – Kaduna service is run on a fully automated e-ticket system with entry and exit turnstiles that validate every passenger onboard our trains. Ticket checkers also validate the tickets of every passenger via electronic validators linked to the central system to verify the integrity of our manifest.

“398 passengers purchased tickets to travel on the NRC AK9 service, and 362  passengers boarded the AK9 service. The entire seat capacity of the train in question is 840, therefore, the figure of 970 being circulated cannot be correct.”

“The AK9 service is the last service out of Abuja on a Monday evening and is usually at less than half capacity.

Passengers onboard the AK9 service on Monday have confirmed that the train was certainly not run at full capacity.

“The NRC is continuing its efforts to reach out to passengers using the comprehensive manifest in order to obtain valid information about their present condition.”