Abuja-Kaduna train derails, passengers escape unhurt

A passenger train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja derailed on Thursday morning, leaving several cabins overturned along the busy corridor.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the incident caused panic among the passengers, many of whom scrambled to safety.

Although details remained sketchy, there were no confirmed reports of casualties as of press time.

Eyewitnesses said some coaches were badly affected, with the passengers sustaining minor injuries while trying to exit the overturned cabins.

The exact cause of the derailment was yet to be determined.

However, possible factors being considered include vandalism and scavengers’ activities along the rail line, or mechanical issues such as hot axles.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has not issued an official statement, but emergency responders were said to be assessing the situation.

Authorities were also expected to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the derailment.

NAN also reports that this was not the first challenge faced on the route.

The Kaduna-Abuja rail corridor had witnessed disruptions and security threats in the past, most notably the March 2022 terrorist attack that claimed several lives and led to the suspension of services.

Also, just last week, the Abuja-Kaduna train service experienced a technical scare linked to a hot axle.

Thursday’s incident has once again raised questions about the safety and maintenance of one of Nigeria’s most critical rail lines, which serves thousands of passengers daily.

The Managing Director of NRC, Mr Kayode Opeifa told NAN in a telephone interview on Tuesday: “Yes, it has been confirmed. But there was no any casualty.