…Tinubu reacts, as NSIB launches probe
Panic gripped passengers yesterday after a Kaduna-bound train derailed near Asham Station, Abuja, leaving six people injured and forcing the suspension of the busy Abuja–Kaduna rail service.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation, (NRC), confirmed the derailment, which occurred at about 11:09 a.m. along the corridor, saying emergency teams were immediately mobilised. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as passengers scrambled out of the tipped coaches, fearing the worst.
Although NRC spokesman Yakub Mahmood, initially stated that “there was no casualty,” the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) later clarified that six passengers sustained injuries. “A go-team has been deployed to the site to gather evidence, engage stakeholders, and begin an investigation”, NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, announced.
NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, confirmed the suspension of train operations on the route pending investigation. “Some of our technical staff, alongside NSIB and other relevant agencies, are on the ground. Six passengers sustained minor injuries and have since been treated”, he said.
President Bola Tinubu, reacting from Brazil, expressed sadness over the incident. “I am deeply saddened by this derailment. My heartfelt prayers are with the injured, their families, and all passengers who went through this distressing experience”, he posted on his official X account. The President assured that he is receiving constant updates and that steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence.
The Abuja–Kaduna line, inaugurated in 2016 to provide a safer alternative to the highway plagued by bandits and accidents, has had a chequered safety record. It was shut for six months after terrorists attacked a train in 2022, killing a dozen and abducting around 60 passengers. Other derailments were recorded in 2023 near Kubwa and in 2024 near Jere. Just last week, an axle fault disrupted services.
The NSIB said its investigation would focus on identifying both immediate and systemic causes, with safety recommendations to follow.
For now, commuters who rely on the 186-kilometre corridor remain stranded, as Nigeria once again confronts the fragility of its most strategic rail link.
