A train heading from Kaduna to Abuja derailed on Tuesday morning, causing several coaches to overturn and leaving passengers scrambling in fear.
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Eyewitnesses described the atmosphere as chaotic, with commuters rushing to safety as the incident unfolded along the busy route. The cause of the derailment and whether there were casualties had not been confirmed as of press time, and officials have yet to release a statement.
The Kaduna-Abuja rail line, regarded as one of Nigeria’s busiest, has faced repeated disruptions in recent years. In March 2022, armed men carried out a deadly attack on the service, raising longstanding concerns over safety and reliability.
Tuesday’s mishap comes barely a week after the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed another technical fault on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service. The agency reported that one of the coaches developed a hot axle, a defect caused by unusual heat in the journal housing near Rigasa Station in Kaduna.
According to NRC spokesperson Callistus Unyimadu, the fault was swiftly contained, and the train was safely directed to Kaduna. The corporation admitted the glitch led to temporary capacity shortages, particularly for business class passengers, before operations eventually resumed. An apology was also issued to commuters affected by the disruption.
