Nigerian Railway Corporation Confirms Abuja-Kaduna Train Mishap, Says Injured Passengers Receiving Treatment

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has officially confirmed a train incident occurring on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor on Monday morning.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that hundreds of passengers were left stranded on Monday morning after an Abuja-bound train from Kaduna was involved in a collision with another train along the rail corridor, forcing an immediate suspension of operations.

But in a press statement signed by the Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the corporation described the event as an “avoidable incident” that took place at approximately 10:30am near Asham.

According to the NRC, the mishap involved a rear locomotive and a passenger coach.

He added that preliminary investigations suggest that the collision was not a head-on crash with a separate train, but rather a mechanical failure within the same service.

“Preliminary reports indicate that the rear locomotive made contact with the rear immediately next to it due to a coupling issue,” the statement read.

While the impact caused panic among the hundreds of passengers on board, the NRC confirmed that no fatalities were recorded. However, an unspecified number of passengers sustained various degrees of injuries.

The statement partly read: “Some passengers sustained injuries and were promptly attended to and taken to a nearby medical facility for proper medical care. No fatalities were recorded.

“Emergency response protocols were immediately activated, and relevant technical teams have been mobilized to the location. The Safety Investigation Bureau (SIB) is also on site to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident in line with established safety procedures.

“The Corporation assures the public that safety remains its top priority, and all necessary measures are being taken to address the situation and ensure the continued safe operation of train services.”

This official confirmation follows chaotic scenes reported earlier today by passengers who were forced to wait in the middle of the rail corridor. While initial reports from the scene suggested a “clash” between two separate trains, the NRC’s clarification points to a critical failure in the train’s internal coupling system—the mechanism that links the locomotive to the passenger cars.

“We were moving at a steady pace when there was a loud bang and the train suddenly braked,” said one passenger via a social media update. “We later realised we had hit another train on the same track. Everyone is shaken, but we are waiting for official word.”