An Abuja-bound passenger train heading towards Kaduna on Tuesday morning derailed before reaching Jere, leaving scores of passengers stranded and several injured, The Trumpet Newspaper has learnt.
The train, which departed Kubwa station in Abuja at about 10:15 am, suddenly went off the tracks mid-journey.
Eyewitnesses said at least two coaches tumbled and crashed into the ground, throwing passengers into panic.
“They were shouting and crying inside. People sustained injuries. Some of them had cuts on their heads and legs when the coaches hit the ground,” one passenger told The Trumpet Newspaper.
Despite the severity of the incident, as of press time, no emergency agency had arrived at the scene to assist the victims of the accident.
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Survivors complained bitterly that government rescue agencies had abandoned them to their fate.
“This has been almost two hours now, and not a single emergency response team is here. We are stuck and people are in pain,” another stranded commuter lamented.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has yet to issue an official statement on the derailment, raising questions about the safety of the Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor, which has faced multiple security and operational challenges in recent years, including the March 2022 terrorist attack that left passengers dead and several abducted.
Critics say the derailment once again exposes the government’s failure to prioritize safety and emergency preparedness, especially along the highly sensitive Abuja–Kaduna route.
