According to The Leadership, Passengers travelling from Abuja to Kaduna narrowly escaped death on Monday after a train operating along the Abuja–Kaduna railway corridor derailed near Asham, sparking panic among those on board.
Several videos circulating on social media showed frightened passengers stranded along the railway track as officials and emergency responders moved to the scene to assess the situation and provide assistance.
The incident was confirmed by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, who disclosed that the train experienced an operational problem during the journey. According to him, the accident occurred around 10:30 a.m. when a rear locomotive reportedly made contact with the coach behind it due to a mechanical coupling issue, which led to the derailment.
Opeifa explained that emergency response protocols were immediately activated after the incident occurred, with railway officials and safety personnel deployed to the area to ensure the safety of passengers.
Although the derailment triggered panic among travellers, authorities confirmed that no lives were lost. However, several passengers sustained injuries of varying degrees during the incident. The injured were promptly evacuated and transported to Idu Train Station in Abuja, where medical personnel attended to them.
The NRC boss assured the public that all affected passengers were receiving the necessary medical care and support, while efforts were underway to restore normal operations along the route.
Technical teams have also been dispatched to the site to examine the damaged locomotive and coaches involved in the incident. In addition, the Safety Investigation Bureau (SIB) has commenced a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the derailment and prevent similar occurrences in the future.