By Peter Omopo
A passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna derailed on Tuesday morning, leaving several coaches overturned and sparking panic among passengers.
The incident occurred shortly after the train departed Abuja around 11 a.m., along the busy corridor linking the Federal Capital Territory to Kaduna. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with passengers scrambling out of derailed cabins in fear.
“It was pure pandemonium. People were running in different directions after the carriages went off track. We are not sure if everyone is safe yet, but we pray all passengers survive,” an eyewitness told PUNCH Online.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, confirmed the derailment in a telephone interview, noting that rescue operations were underway. “The incident is confirmed, and rescue efforts are ongoing as we speak,” he said, without providing further details.
While the cause of the derailment is yet to be established, no fatalities have been officially reported as of the time of filing this report.
The Abuja–Kaduna rail line is one of Nigeria’s busiest, serving hundreds of daily commuters. It has, however, witnessed multiple disruptions in the past, including the March 2022 terrorist attack that claimed several lives and led to mass abductions.
