BBC News
By Beverly Ochieng & Jewel Kiriungi
BBC Monitoring
image copyrightSheihk Gumi Facebook
image captionSheikh Gumi (L) also tries to dissuade bandits from criminality - on one occasion handing out Islamic books
A prominent Muslim cleric acting as a self-appointed middleman has emerged as a divisive figure in the kidnap-for-ransom crisis plaguing northern Nigeria, which has seen more than 800 students seized in recent months.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a former army captain, was involved in Wednesday s release of 27 students abducted in March from a forestry college in Nigeria s Kaduna state.
Such is his influence that the parents of the freed students paid him a thank you visit where he assured that 16 other students abducted from Greenfield University in Kaduna state in April, would not be killed.
Last week, a train loaded with water pipes from Lagos to Zaria derailed around Unguwar Kanawa axis of Kaduna, opposite Sultan Bello Mosque as a result of vandalism.
However, while parading the syndicate on Friday evening in Zaria, the Northern District Engineer, Zaria, Haruna Sabo said the thieves were arrested by staff of the district office at Sayi-Dumbi section along Zaria-Kaduna axis on Friday.
Suspects, Sabitu Kabiru, in black shirt and Sabi’u Shehu in red shirt, holding bits of the vandalised lines
Sabo said the railway inspection and maintenance unit has provided and assigned personnel to man trenches of rail lines on daily basis adding that the personnel were expected to be on patrol of such trenches.
Train derails in Kaduna
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A train loaded with water pipes from Lagos to Zaria has derailed in Kaduna, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN gathered that no one was injured in the accident which occurred at about 5:50 p.m. on Saturday around Unguwar Kanawa axis, opposite Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna.
“There was no casualty and no property damaged”, Kaduna State Police Command Spokesman, Mohammed Jalige, told NAN.
“The train developed some faults and derailed, it was on transit from Lagos to Zaria.
“We have deployed our operatives to secure the place and protect the pipes,” Mr Jalige added.
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A train loaded with water pipes from Lagos to Zaria has derailed in Kaduna, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN gathered that no one was injured in the accident which occurred at about 5:50pm on Saturday around Unguwar Kanawa axis, opposite Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna.
There was no casualty and no property damaged”, Kaduna State Police Command Spokesman, ASP Mohammed Jalige told NAN.
“The train developed some fualts and derailed, it was on transit from Lagos to Zaria.
“We have deployed our operatives to secure the place and protect the pipes,” Jalige added.
Also, Kaduna State Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, Hafiz Mohammed, described the accident as minor.