Passengers travelling along the busy rail corridor between Abuja and Kaduna sustained varying degrees of injuries on Monday morning after a train operating on the route was involved in an incident that forced the service to halt midway through the journey.
The passenger train, which departed from Kaduna and was heading to Abuja, failed to reach its destination as scheduled after the disruption occurred along the rail line linking the Federal Capital Territory with Kaduna State.
Details surrounding the incident were still emerging at the time of filing this report. However, a source within the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed that an unexpected development occurred during the journey, forcing the train service to stop while authorities assessed the situation.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, said railway officials had begun preliminary checks to determine the cause of the disruption and ensure the safety of passengers on board.
Passengers who were inside the train at the time of the incident described moments of panic and confusion as the situation unfolded suddenly.
According to several eyewitnesses, the Abuja-bound train came to an abrupt halt after what many described as a loud bang, followed by a violent jolt that shook the coaches.
“The sound was very loud, and immediately the train jerked strongly. Some people were thrown from their seats, while others screamed because nobody understood what had happened,” one passenger recounted.
Another traveller said the sudden impact caused panic inside the coaches as passengers struggled to regain balance and check on one another.
“People were shouting and asking questions. Some passengers sustained minor injuries from the sudden movement, while others were trying to calm those who were frightened,” the passenger added.
Initial accounts from those on board suggested that the Abuja-bound train may have collided with another train operating along the same corridor. The reported collision forced rail operations to stop temporarily while officials assessed the damage and ensured that passengers could be safely evacuated or assisted.
Emergency responders and railway officials were said to have begun immediate efforts to stabilise the situation and attend to injured passengers.
The rail line between Abuja and Kaduna remains one of Nigeria’s busiest passenger routes, frequently used by travellers seeking a faster and safer alternative to road transport along the corridor.
Over the years, the route has recorded heavy passenger traffic due to security concerns on the Abuja–Kaduna highway, making the railway service a critical transportation link between the Federal Capital Territory and northern Nigeria.
As investigations continue, officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation are expected to provide further details on the cause of the incident, the number of passengers injured, and the steps being taken to restore normal rail operations along the corridor.
