Several passengers sustained injuries on Monday after a passenger train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja derailed along the Abuja Kaduna rail corridor, forcing the train to halt and disrupting the journey.
Passengers aboard the Abuja bound service said the incident occurred during the early hours of the day when the train jolted violently, triggering panic inside the coaches.
According to eyewitness accounts, the train experienced a violent jolt during the early hours of the journey, triggering widespread panic among the 429 passengers on board.
While the train remained on the tracks, the impact of the mechanical malfunction caused injuries to several commuters.
Travellers said the impact threw some passengers from their seats as the train came to an abrupt stop.
Some passengers were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries in the confusion that followed the incident.
In a statement, the Nigerian Railway Corporation said the incident occurred at about 10.30 a.m. near Asham and involved a rear locomotive and a passenger coach.
According to the corporation, preliminary findings indicated that the rear locomotive made contact with the coach immediately next to it due to a coupling issue.
The statement said some passengers sustained injuries and were promptly attended to before being taken to a nearby medical facility for proper medical care.
It added that no fatalities were recorded.
The corporation said emergency response protocols were immediately activated, while technical teams were deployed to the location to address the situation.
It also said the Safety Investigation Bureau had arrived at the scene to conduct a thorough investigation in line with established safety procedures.
The Abuja Kaduna standard gauge rail line remains one of the most patronised passenger routes in the country, providing a key transport link between Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.
The corridor has continued to attract large numbers of travellers, particularly commuters seeking a safer alternative to the Abuja Kaduna highway.
