A passenger train heading from Abuja to Kaduna derailed on Tuesday morning, overturning several carriages and causing panic among passengers on board.
It was gathered that the incident occurred along the popular corridor immediately after the train left Abuja at 11 a.m. on its way to Kaduna.
The train incident has led people to escape for safety, with several describing the scene as chaotic and terrifying.
An eyewitness reported that the derailment occurred unexpectedly, causing confusion as passengers raced out of the derailed cabins.
The eyewitness said, “It is a complete pandemonium. People who were confirmed to be saved were seen running in different directions. It was pure panic.
“We cannot confirm if everyone is safe yet, but we pray everyone comes out alive.”
Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, confirmed the event to our correspondent over the phone on Tuesday, stating that a rescue mission is already underway at the spot.
He said, “I don’t want to say much for now, but the incident is confirmed, and the rescue operation is on as we speak.”
Although the actual cause of the derailment is unknown at the time of writing, no casualties have been officially recorded.
The Kaduna-Abuja rail route is one of Nigeria’s most active rail corridors, with hundreds of commuters using it every day.
The rail route has been repeatedly disrupted over the years, most recently by a terrorist attack in March 2022 that killed several people and abducted many more.
