Yahaya Bello, the Governor of Kogi State, has deleted a tweet revealing that only 398 people bought tickets for the attacked Abuja-Kaduna train.

The governor had tweeted a manifest containing names, phone numbers of buyers and prices of tickets bought on Monday evening, only to delete it about two hours later.

In a press statement, Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, had revealed that only 362 people boarded the train.

“The Kaduna State Government has received from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), the detailed passenger manifest for the Abuja-Kaduna train service AK9, which was attacked by terrorists on Monday,” the statement read.

“The documents received showed 398 passengers bought tickets for the trip, but 362 were validated as having boarded the train through the recognized turnstile.

“The passenger manifest does not include NRC staff and security officials who were on board.

“Furthermore, security agencies have reported that eight bodies were recovered and 26 persons were injured during the attack.

“Investigations are still ongoing to ascertain the status of the passengers who were on board the train and remain unaccounted for at the time of this update. Search operations are also being sustained.

“Citizens are requested to contact the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency on the phone line 09088923398, to make enquiries or provide information regarding passengers who were on board the Abuja-Kaduna train AK9.

“Further updates will be communicated to the public.”

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The train was attacked by terrorists who shot sporadically and bombed its track on Monday night in Dutse village, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

There had been rumours that over 900 passengers were on board at the time of the attack.

See full manifest tweeted by Yahaya Bello here:

While the manifest shows 398 officially bought tickets, the issue of ticket racketeering has been longstanding in Nigeria and proven on multiple occasions.