ABUJA: Several passengers sustained injuries on Monday morning after a train operating on the Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor derailed, forcing the service to halt temporarily before continuing the journey.
The train, travelling from Kaduna to Abuja, encountered the disruption midway along the busy railway line that connects the Federal Capital Territory with Kaduna State. The incident caused panic among passengers and briefly interrupted operations on the route.
A source within the NIGERIAN RAILWAY CORPORATION, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that an incident occurred along the corridor, though full details were still being assessed.
Passengers on board described a frightening moment when the train suddenly jolted, causing alarm across the coaches.
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According to eyewitnesses, many passengers heard a loud bang moments before the train shook violently and came to an abrupt stop. The sudden movement reportedly threw several occupants from their seats, leaving some with injuries.
Early reports suggest the Abuja-bound train may have collided with another train operating on the same corridor, prompting railway officials to halt movement temporarily while the situation was evaluated.
Several passengers reportedly suffered cuts and bruises after being flung against seats and metal fixtures inside the compartments.
One of the passengers, Sada Malumfashi, shared his experience shortly after leaving the train, describing the chaotic moments following the impact.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said passengers were caught off guard by the sudden jolt.
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 wrote.
Passengers said the train remained stationary for about 30 minutes before it slowly resumed movement toward Kubwa, a suburb on the outskirts of Abuja.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Callistus Unyimadu, confirmed that the incident occurred and said an official statement would be issued to provide further clarification on what happened.
The Abuja–Kaduna railway is one of Nigeria’s busiest passenger rail routes, widely used by commuters seeking a safer alternative to the Abuja–Kaduna highway, which has previously been plagued by security concerns.
Further details about the cause of the derailment and the condition of the injured passengers are expected as railway authorities release more information.
