The Nigeria Railway Corporation has explained the cause of the train accident involving a Kaduna–Abuja bound train, in the early hours of Monday. 

The train had derailed at a point between the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Kaduna State. The accident caused temporary halt of services, while some passengers sustained minor injuries, and others overwhelmed by fear.

The Managing Director of NRC, Kayode Opeifa, confirming the accident, said it involved a rear locomotive and a passenger coach, describing it as unavoidable.

Kayode Opeifa, in a statement, indicated that preliminary reports showed that the rear locomotive made contact with the passenger coach, resulting in a disconnection due to a coupling fault.

He added that emergency response protocols were immediately activated, while technical teams were deployed to the scene. Passengers who sustained injuries were taken to nearby health facilities for treatment, he said.

The Corporation said the affected train eventually arrived at its destination in Idu, Abuja, about 38 minutes behind its scheduled arrival time.

Already, a team from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, has commenced an investigation into the accident.