By Myke Uzendu, Abuuja
About 500 passengers narrowly escaped death on Monday after a train operating on the Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor was involved in a collision, leaving several travellers injured.
The incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. near Asham when a train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja experienced a technical problem that led to a collision between a rear locomotive and a passenger coach.
Passengers onboard the train reported that the collision caused a sudden jolt that threw some travellers against seats and metal fittings inside the compartments, leaving a number of them with cuts and bruises.
One of the passengers, Sada Malumfashi, described the frightening moment in a social media post shortly after leaving the train.
“Just dropped from the Kaduna–Abuja train. We heard a loud bang and the train jolted to a stop flinging people across. Passengers got hit and most are bleeding and severely injured,” he wrote, adding that the train later resumed its journey toward Kubwa after a delay.
Confirming the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said the collision occurred when a problem developed with the coupling mechanism linking a rear locomotive to the passenger coach.
In a statement issued by the Managing Director of the corporation, Kayode Opeifa, the incident was described as avoidable.
According to the statement, preliminary findings indicated that the rear locomotive made contact with the coach immediately behind it after the coupling mechanism failed.
The corporation said emergency response procedures were immediately activated and injured passengers were attended to before being taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
The NRC, however, confirmed that no fatalities were recorded.
Further details released by the National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) showed that the train, identified as KA2, departed Rigasa Railway Station for its scheduled journey to Idu Railway Station.
According to a preliminary report signed by the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Funke Arowojobe, the train arrived at Jere Railway Station at about 8:52 a.m. before departing again at 8:59 a.m. after a rear locomotive was attached to provide additional operational support.
However, shortly after leaving Jere Station, the rear locomotive reportedly detached while the train was descending toward the Asham section of the route.
The detached locomotive then rolled forward and collided with the rear portion of the train, resulting in what officials described as a serious operational incident.
At the time of the accident, the train consisted of two locomotives positioned at the front and rear, a power car, two business-class coaches and six standard passenger coaches.
Authorities said there were 429 passengers onboard, along with 46 crew members and 24 security personnel.
Investigators from the National Safety Investigation Bureau are currently examining the incident to determine the exact cause and recommend safety measures to prevent a recurrence.
