The Federal Government, through the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has asked Nigerians to raise funds for the treatment of those who sustained injuries when bandits attacked a train heading to Kaduna State from the FCT.

Bandits during an attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train gunned down at least nine persons, while many others sustained different degrees of injuries

The incident has triggered reactions since Monday, as Nigerians lament the level of insecurity ravaging the nation at the moment.

Amaechi, who spoke when he visited the victims who are being treated at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna on Wednesday, revealed that the army had not charged the patients a dime.

The minister asked Nigerians to liaise with the hospital to contribute money as some of the patients who have bullets in their body may need surgery.

He said, “The CMD and I have been talking, the army has not charged one kobo on any patient, and they have given the maximum medical treatment that they can give to any patients.

“You saw the patients with burns and then the one that has bullet located in her heart. They are bringing an expert tomorrow for that one to see if there will be surgery or not to take out the bullet.

“They said they have only seven (patients) left and the rest have been discharged. The ministry, and I think the federal government, are grateful to the Nigerian Army for providing such services. But one thing I have said to the Nigerian people is to liaise with the hospital management and see how much money they can contribute for the treatment of the patients.

“Obviously those drugs are not manufactured here, the experts they are bringing from outside doesn’t work with the army, so they definitely have to pay them. We will try as much as possible to see what contributions we can make to the management of the hospital to assist in taking care of the patients.”