Kaduna-Abuja train derails, scores of passengers injured
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Scores of passengers were reportedly injured on Monday when a Abuja-bound train from Kaduna derailed midway through its journey.
According to eyewitness reports, several passengers sustained injuries when the train skidded off the tracks, forcing a sudden halt midway.
Passengers on board said the incident happened suddenly, sending shock and panic through the coaches as the train came to an abrupt halt, per Punch Newspaper report.
Some passengers reported hearing a loud bang before the train jolted violently, throwing several occupants off their seats and causing confusion inside the coaches.
According to the eyewitness accounts, the Abuja-bound train reportedly collided with another train along the corridor, forcing rail operations to stop temporarily while the situation was assessed.
A number of passengers were injured, with some reportedly sustaining cuts and bruises after being flung against seats and metal fittings inside the train compartments.
A social media user, Sada Malumfashi, who claimed to be one of the passengers, described the frightening moment shortly after disembarking from the train, explaining that the sudden jolt caught many people unprepared.
The passenger who posted on his X account stressed that the train remained stationary for about 30 minutes before the journey resumed slowly towards Kubwa, an area on the outskirts of Abuja.
He said, “Just dropped from the Kaduna-Abuja train. We heard a loud bang, and the train jolted to a stop, flinging people across. Passengers got hit, and most are bleeding and severely injured. The train was delayed for some 30 minutes and resumed to Kubwa. No communication from @info_NRC on anything.”
Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, confirmed that the train encountered an incident near Asham but no casualties, per Daily Post report.
“It is confirmed that our Abuja-Kaduna train had an incident at Asham. Passengers were injured while an investigation is ongoing into the exact cause of the incident,” Opeifa said.
