The Abuja-Kaduna train service has been suspended indefinitely following Tuesday’s derailment that left six passengers injured.
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The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, announced the suspension after the incident, assuring that affected passengers would be refunded. He dismissed insinuations that the trains were in poor condition, noting that investigations would determine the exact cause.
The accident occurred at about 11:09 a.m. at KM 49, between Kubwa Station and Asham Station, shortly after the Kaduna-bound train departed Abuja. Panic broke out as several cabins went off track, forcing terrified passengers to scramble for safety.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed that six people sustained injuries but no fatalities were recorded. In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, the agency said a go-team had been deployed to collect evidence, engage stakeholders, and begin a probe.
“The Bureau sympathises with those injured and extends its support to all passengers affected. The investigation will focus on identifying the direct and underlying factors that led to the derailment, with the aim of issuing safety recommendations to prevent a recurrence,” the statement read.
NSIB’s Director General, Captain Alex Badeh, also expressed sympathy and stressed the Bureau’s commitment to ensuring safer rail transport through a transparent and independent investigation.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), led by its Director General Zubaida Umar, dispatched a rescue team to the scene to provide emergency support.
Preliminary findings suggest that the derailment may have been caused by vandalism or improper fixing of the “points” where train tracks intersect. An NRC official explained that the incident occurred at Asham Station, where tracks are manually switched between multiple lines.
“Either it was vandalized or the point was not properly fixed,” the official said. “It could also be negligence by those meant to change the points, or even sabotage. Investigations will determine the exact cause.”
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