26 People Injured In Abuja Kaduna Train Accident Second Incident On Same Route In A Year
At least 26 passengers and crew members were injured on Monday when a train operating on the busy Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor derailed, marking the second railway incident along the same route within a year, railway officials and eyewitnesses said. The train, which was carrying 481 people including passengers, crew members, security personnel and vendors derailed near Asham Station in Kaduna State early Monday morning, according to a statement by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). The NRC said that part of the train formation rode off the tracks after a loud bang was heard, causing several coaches to shake violently before coming to an abrupt stop.Officials confirmed that 26 people sustained varying degrees of injuries, ranging from minor to moderate, and were treated at nearby hospitals.
Emergency crews and medical personnel were promptly dispatched to the scene to assist the injured and clear the tracks so that regular services could resume later in the day. The NRC’s Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, noted that the train eventually completed part of its journey to Kubwa and arrived in Abuja more than 30 minutes behind schedule, highlighting the operational disruption caused by the incident. This latest accident comes roughly 13 months after a previous train derailment on the same Abuja–Kaduna route in August 2025, when several coaches left the tracks near Asham Station and several passengers were injured, though there were no fatalities.
The Abuja–Kaduna rail line opened in 2016 as a safe alternative to the often perilous highway between the two cities has faced scrutiny over safety and maintenance following multiple incidents, including derailments and operational challenges. Railway safety advocates, transport analysts, and commuters have called for more rigorous infrastructure inspections and preventive maintenance to prevent future accidents on the vital rail corridor. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is expected to launch an official probe into the cause of the derailment, examining track conditions, rolling stock, and operational procedures to determine what went wrong and recommend safety improvements. Meanwhile, passengers expressed relief that no fatalities were reported and thanked emergency responders for their swift action.
As rail travel remains an important mode of transportation for Nigerians particularly along the Abuja–Kaduna corridor transport officials face pressure to address persistent safety concerns and prevent further incidents on the country’s busiest passenger rail line.
