By Cajetan Mmuta
The Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Achebe, has denied a media report that a phone call from an unnamed caller saved him from boarding the ill-fated passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna that was attacked by terrorists on Monday.
Igwe Achebe in a statement issued by the palace on Saturday and signed by the Chief of Staff to the monarch, Chief Chinyelugo Anionwu, described the reports as untrue.
The Onitsha Traditional Council said it was not true that Igwe Achebe was billed to be on the train to Kaduna that day though he had an appointment for the following day at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State.
The statement is titled, “A statement on the on-going media frenzy connecting the Obi of Onitsha with the unfortunate attack on the Abuja to Kaduna train by armed bandits on Monday, 28 March.”
Igwe Achebe said, “For the records, the Palace would like to state categorically that His Majesty never made such a statement to anyone at any time.”
“While His Majesty was abroad, the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, sent a letter dated January 21 inviting him to deliver a lecture on Tuesday, March 29 to its annual training programme of officers from all security agencies in the country on Internal Security.
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“His Majesty, on return to Onitsha on 8 February, accepted the invitation in keeping with his commitment, along with his brother traditional rulers, to the promotion of peace and harmony in the country.
“In discussing the options for His Majesty’s travel to Jaji with his hosts on 14 March, the option of travel by train from Abuja to Kaduna was considered and set aside in favour of road transport with adequate security escort.
“Thus, His Majesty travelled safely to Jaji on 28 March and returned to Abuja on 30 March with very adequate security escort provided by the AFCSC, and no hitches whatsoever.
“On Thursday, 31 March, His Majesty attended the South East Leadership Press Conference at Enugu. In his brief goodwill message, he lamented the state of insecurity and violence in the country and drew attention to the train attack in which the Onitsha kingdom lost the young medical doctor, Chinelo Megafu.”
The monarch however urged Nigerians to “pray for God’s blessings and grace on our challenged country.”
