In what could have been another major railway tragedy, passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna train service were thrown into panic on Wednesday after a train derailed shortly after departing from Kubwa station in Abuja. The incident, which occurred along the busy Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor, left many scampering for safety but, fortunately, no casualties were recorded.

According to reports, the derailment happened when one of the coaches veered off the track, forcing the train to come to a sudden halt. Eyewitnesses said the sudden jolt caused confusion and fear among commuters, many of whom rushed out of the coaches, recalling the harrowing 2022 attack on the same railway line where terrorists abducted several passengers.

The Fear and Uncertainty Among Passengers

Passengers on board recounted moments of fear as the coaches shook violently before stopping. Some immediately abandoned their belongings in a desperate attempt to escape. The memory of the previous train attack on March 28, 2022, is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians, making this derailment particularly traumatic for many.

One passenger told journalists that the situation was chaotic:

“The train stopped suddenly, and before we knew it, people were shouting and running. We thought it was another attack.”

NRC Confirms Incident

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the incident, stating that no life was lost and no passenger was injured. NRC engineers have since been deployed to the site to assess the extent of the damage and commence repairs. The corporation assured the public that safety measures were being reinforced to prevent a repeat of such an occurrence.