Passengers stranded as Abuja-Kaduna train derails

An Abuja-Kaduna passenger train derailed on Tuesday morning amidst panic by passengers who were left stranded.

The incident happened around 11:00 am within Jere town after the train left Abuja for Kaduna.

A passenger on board the train described the scene as chaotic as passengers scrambled for safety. However, there was no injury or fatality.

It was also learnt that military personnel have been deployed to the site to provide adequate security.

Confirming the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said one of its Kaduna-bound Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) was involved in a derailment on Tuesday morning.

According to the NRC, the incident occurred at about 11:09 a.m. at KM 49, between Kubwa Station and Asham Station.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation confirms a train derailment involving our Kaduna bound AKTS train service at about 11:09am at KM 49 between Kubwa station and Asham station,” the corporation said in a statement by its Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa.

The NRC noted that emergency services had been activated to respond promptly to the situation.

“Emergency rescue, medical personnel, and nearby hospitals have already been mobilised. Full compliment of security already on ground as effort is ongoing to move all passengers on train back to Abuja safely,” the statement added.

Appealing for calm, the corporation urged passengers and the general public to remain patient as authorities worked to ensure safety and restore normalcy.

“Kindly bear with us at this moment,” the NRC stated.

It would be recalled that another incident of derailment on the AKTS was recorded in May 2024.