Abuja–Kaduna Train Derails, Passengers Flee in Panic

A passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna derailed on Tuesday morning, leaving several carriages overturned and sparking panic among commuters on board.

The incident occurred shortly after the train departed Abuja around 11 a.m. en route to Kaduna, TIMES OF NIGERIA gathered. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as passengers scrambled out of the derailed cabins to safety.

“It was complete pandemonium,” one passenger said. “People who managed to get out were running in different directions. It was pure panic. We cannot confirm if everyone is safe yet, but we pray all survive.”

NRC Confirms Incident

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, confirmed the incident to the PUNCH correspondent in a telephone conversation on Tuesday, saying that the rescue operation is ongoing at the scene of the incident.

“I don’t want to say much for now, but the incident is confirmed and the rescue operation is ongoing as we speak,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, no casualties had been officially reported, and the cause of the derailment remained unclear.

Rail Line Plagued by Disruptions

The Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor is one of the busiest in Nigeria, used daily by hundreds of commuters.

It has also faced repeated disruptions, most notably the March 2022 terrorist attack, which left several passengers dead and many abducted.