A passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna on Tuesday derailed from its track, leaving some of its cabins overturned with some passengers sustaining various degrees of injuries.
The incident occurred along the popular route on Tuesday morning, precipitating panic among passengers.
A passenger described the scene as chaotic, with people scrambling for safety.
It was not immediately known what caused the derailment or whether there were records of death.
However, confirming the incident, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), in a statement on the NRC official X handle wrote, “The Nigeria Railway Corporation confirms a trail derailment involving our Kaduna bound AKTS trains service at about 11:09 at Km39 between Kubwa station and Asham Station.
“Emergency rescue, medical personnel and nearby hospitals have already been mobilized.
“Full compliment of security already on ground as efforts are ongoing to move all passengers on train back to Abuja safely,” he said.
The Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor, one of the busiest in the country, has suffered multiple disruptions in recent times, including the March 2022, deadly attack by terrorists at Rijana, Kaduna State.
Just last week, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had confirmed an incident on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) after one of the train’s coach wheels developed a hot axle on Wednesday evening.
According to a statement signed by the NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, the fault occurred a few kilometres from Rigasa Station in Kaduna.
The hot axle, the corporation explained, was caused by abnormal temperature and excessive heat on the journal housing.
Unyimadu noted that the situation was immediately brought under control, and the train was safely marshalled to Kaduna.
Following the incident, the NRC said there would be temporary capacity issues, particularly affecting passengers booked on the business class coach.
Train services along the route was later restored, none the less.
The corporation tendered apology for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
