A passenger train servicing the busy Kaduna–Abuja route derailed on Tuesday morning, causing panic and injuring an unconfirmed number of passengers.

The incident occurred as the train was travelling from Kaduna to the nation’s capital. Early reports indicate that several cabins overturned during the derailment, forcing passengers to scramble for safety amidst the chaos.

Details remain fluid, and the exact number of casualties, if any, has not been officially confirmed by authorities. The cause of the derailment is also yet to be ascertained.

This line has been plagued by significant challenges in recent years. Notably, in March 2022, the corridor was the scene of a deadly terrorist attack where armed men targeted a train, resulting in multiple fatalities and passenger abductions.

While the cause of today’s incident is under investigation, authorities have previously attributed frequent disruptions on this route to acts of vandalism and the activities of scavengers who target rail infrastructure.

As of press time, officials from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and security agencies have not issued an official statement regarding the derailment. Emergency responders are believed to be at the scene.