FORMER Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor (rtd), has described the 2022 Abuja–Kaduna train abduction as one of the most harrowing and challenging episodes of his military career, admitting that the tragic incident stretched Nigeria’s security architecture to its limits.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Monday night monitored by News Point Nigeria, the retired general reflected on the turbulence of his tenure, saying the attack on the passenger train near Katari, Kaduna State, was a defining moment that demanded every ounce of his experience and leadership.
“For me, during the time I was CDS, the security situation across the country was most troubling,” Irabor said.
“I think the most challenging was the incident involving the train abduction, which added to the dynamics of the challenges we were facing at the time.”
Irabor explained that the Defence Headquarters under his command had to mobilise extensive human and material resources to ensure the safe release of the abducted passengers, many of whom were held captive for months.
“All the experiences one had prior to that time were deployed to ensure those who were abducted were rescued,” he recounted.
The retired general also highlighted other major operations during his tenure, including the prolonged counterinsurgency campaign in the North-East, the containment of banditry in the North-West, and the protection of vital oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
“Beyond that, the North-East operation was deep in my mind. Having served a greater part of my career there, I felt a need to return to ensure that operations were conducted effectively without losing our teams,” he added.
General Irabor underscored the importance of securing Nigeria’s energy resources, noting that stabilising oil production was crucial to the country’s economic resilience.
“We had to ensure that oil theft, vandalism, and sabotage were curtailed because the nation’s economy depends largely on these resources,” he said.
Reflecting on life after leaving the military, the former CDS said retirement had given him more freedom to pursue personal passions, including writing.
“It’s now relieving and freer to do what I want,” he stated, revealing that his new book, ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum’, draws deeply from his years of service and the lessons learned from Nigeria’s long battle against terrorism.
The Abuja–Kaduna train attack occurred on March 28, 2022, when heavily armed gunmen bombed the rail tracks and derailed a passenger train carrying hundreds of travelers.
The assault left at least eight people dead, dozens injured, and over 60 passengers abducted, including women, children, and top government officials.
The tragedy forced authorities to suspend train operations for months, while multiple rescue operations were launched.
Although several captives were eventually freed reportedly after ransom negotiations, the attack exposed critical gaps in Nigeria’s intelligence and transportation security systems.
General Irabor’s tenure as Chief of Defence Staff (2021–2023) is often remembered for its multidimensional challenges, insurgency, banditry, oil theft, secessionist agitations, and urban crime but also for efforts to coordinate joint military operations and rebuild public trust in the armed forces.