Several passengers were injured on Monday morning when a train operating on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor was involved in an incident, forcing the service to halt midway through its journey.
The passenger train traveling from Kaduna to Abuja was unable to reach its destination as scheduled after a disruption occurred along the busy rail line connecting the Federal Capital Territory with Kaduna State.
A source within the Nigerian Railway Corporation confirmed the incident on condition of anonymity, saying it is not within his authority to speak publicly on such matters.
Passengers on board reported that the disruption occurred suddenly, causing shock and panic as the train came to an abrupt halt.
Some passengers reported hearing a loud bang before the train jolted violently, causing several occupants to be thrown off their seats and creating confusion inside the coaches.
Eyewitnesses said the Abuja-bound train reportedly collided with another train along the corridor, forcing rail operations to halt temporarily while the situation was assessed.
It was gathered that a number of passengers were injured, with some reportedly sustaining cuts and bruises after being flung against seats and metal fittings inside the train compartments.
A social media user, Sada Malumfashi, who claimed to be one of the passengers, described the frightening moment shortly after disembarking from the train, explaining that the sudden jolt caught many people unprepared.
The passenger who posted on his X account stressed that the train remained stationary for about 30 minutes before the journey resumed slowly towards Kubwa, an area on the outskirts of Abuja.
He said, “Just dropped from the Kaduna-Abuja train. We heard a loud bang, and the train jolted to a stop, flinging people across. Passengers got hit, and most are bleeding and severely injured. The train was delayed for some 30 minutes and resumed to Kubwa. No communication from @info_NRC on anything.”
When contacted, the NRC spokesperson, Callistus Unyimadu, confirmed the incident and promised that an official statement would be issued.
