Kaduna: 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) reports that the incident caused panic among the passengers, many of whom scrambled to safety.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, although details remained sketchy, there were no confirmed reports of casualties as of press time. The Managing Director of NRC, Mr Kayode Opeifa, confirmed in a telephone interview that there were no casualties. Eyewitnesses reported that some coaches were badly affected, with 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, scavengers’ activities along the rail line, or mechanical issues such as hot axles. NAN reports that emergency responders were assessing the situation, and authorities were 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. Additionally, just last week, the Abuja-Kaduna train service experienced a technical scare linked to a hot axle. The Kaduna-Abuja is one of Nigeria’s most critical rail lines, serving thousands of passengers daily.