Passengers sustain injuries as Abuja–Kaduna train derails

Several passengers sustained injuries on Monday morning after a train operating on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor was involved in an incident, which forced the service to halt midway through the journey.

The train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja couldn’t reach its destination as scheduled after a disruption along the busy rail line.

According to media reports, a source within the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the development on condition of anonymity, as it is not within his purview to speak on such matters.

Passengers on board said the incident happened suddenly, sending shock and panic through the coaches as the train came to an abrupt halt.

Read also: NRC resumes Abuja–Kaduna train service

Some passengers reported hearing a loud bang before the train jolted violently, throwing several occupants off their seats, causing confusion inside the coaches, and leaving many injured.

According to 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.

Sada Malumfashi, who claimed to be one of the passengers, described the frightening moment on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after disembarking from the train, explaining that the sudden jolt caught many people unprepared.

Malumfashi stressed that the train remained stationary for about 30 minutes before the journey resumed slowly towards Kubwa, an area on the outskirts of Abuja.

“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,” he tweeted.

When contacted, the NRC spokesperson, Callistus Unyimadu, also confirmed the development, promising that a statement would be released to that effect.