{"id":121634,"date":"2025-08-27T06:02:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T05:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=121634"},"modified":"2025-08-27T06:02:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T05:02:58","slug":"kaduna-abuja-train-derails-passengers-scramble-for-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/kaduna-abuja-train-derails-passengers-scramble-for-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaduna\u2013Abuja Train Derails, Passengers Scramble for Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Oscar Okhifo<\/div>\n
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Panic gripped passengers on Tuesday morning when a train traveling along the Kaduna\u2013Abuja rail line derailed, leaving several coaches overturned.<\/div>\n
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Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred shortly after the train departed Kaduna for Abuja, forcing terrified passengers to scamper for safety.\u00a0 photos from the scene showed cabins lying on their sides, with some passengers assisting others out of the wreckage.<\/div>\n
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As of press time, there were no confirmed reports of casualties or injuries, and the exact cause of the derailment remains unclear. Authorities from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) too are yet to issue any official statement on the development.<\/div>\n
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The Kaduna\u2013Abuja rail corridor has long been a flashpoint for concerns over safety.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0Past derailments have been linked to vandalism of rail tracks and the removal of vital components by scavengers, sparking repeated calls for stronger surveillance and maintenance.<\/div>\n
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Tuesday\u2019s incident is expected to heighten pressure on the NRC and security agencies to improve safety on the route, which remains one of the busiest rail corridors in Nigeria.<\/div>\n
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Though official statements are still being awaited, some passengers who escaped Tuesday\u2019s derailment have begun sharing their experiences:<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe just heard a loud bang and suddenly the coach started shaking before it fell off the track. Everyone was screaming and rushing to get out,\u201d said one visibly shaken passenger.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThis is not the first time. Government must take railway safety seriously. We cannot keep risking our lives on this route,\u201d another passenger lamented.<\/div>\n
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A third commuter urged urgent action: \u201cThey keep saying vandalism is the problem, but what is being done to stop it? NRC must answer to Nigerians.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Civil society groups and transport analysts are also expected to weigh in, with growing pressure on the NRC to improve track monitoring, tighten security, and upgrade rail infrastructure.<\/div>\n
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The Kaduna\u2013Abuja rail service, launched in 2016 as a safer alternative to the highway plagued by bandit attacks, has faced multiple setbacks over the years:<\/div>\n
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March 2022: Armed terrorists attacked a Kaduna\u2013Abuja train, killing at least 8 passengers and abducting over 60 others, sparking national outrage. They all allegedly paid their ways out of abduction with some staying over 3 months in captivity.<\/div>\n
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In January 2023, a\u00a0 train derailed near Kubwa in Abuja. Although there were no casualties, the incident raised concerns over poor maintenance and vandalism.<\/div>\n
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In June 2024,\u00a0 another derailment was reported. It happened on the Warri\/Itakpe route with the NRC later blaming track vandalism and the removal of fasteners.<\/div>\n
This\u00a0 latest derailment, will sure\u00a0 reignite\u00a0 safety fears.<\/div>\n
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The Kaduna\u2013Abuja route is one of Nigeria\u2019s busiest rail lines, often carrying thousands of passengers weekly. For many travelers, it remains the only relatively safe alternative to the Abuja\u2013Kaduna expressway.<\/div>\n
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However, recurring derailments and security threats have cast doubt on its reliability, with passengers calling for urgent reforms, tighter surveillance, and better maintenance. Pointblanknews.com will update the public as new revelations emerge.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n