Twin toddlers Hassana and Hussaina Barau were crushed to dea3th by an Abuja-bound train from Kaduna State at Kuchiko village, a border settlement between Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State and Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
The victims were expected to celebrate their two-year birthday in July this year.
A community leader, Andrew Dogonyaro, while confirming the incident to the Daily Trust on Tuesday, May 29, 2024, said the incident happened around 10am on Saturday.
“The children used to visit their neighbours on their own. That’s how they got out of their home that day without anyone being aware,” he explained.
“A man sighted them from afar facing each other on the track and he attempted to take them off the track following horns from the train but it was late.”
The accident was initially reported, he said, at the Sabon-Bwari police station and then at the Sabon-Wuse Division in Tafa LGA, Niger State.
The incident was verified by SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesman of the Niger State Police Command.
“Information was received that on 24/5/2024, a moving train from Abuja heading to Kaduna crushed two girls named Hassana Baro and Hussaina Baro, who were about one year and six months old to dea;;th, while playing on the railway at Kuchiko village, via New-Bwari area in Tafa LGA,” he said.
He said the incident would be referred to the Railway Division, Kubwa, Abuja for further investigation and necessary action.