Railway
Updated: Passengers panic as Warri-Itakpe train derails in Kogi forest + video
- NRC suspends train service along the route
Fear of attack and kidnap by terrorists overtook many train passengers on Sunday as their train plying the Warri-Itakpe route derailed, making many to scamper for safety.
A total of 148 passengers and 30 crew members were on the train when the incident happened in a Kogi forest around 2.30 on Sunday, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
Punch reported that many of the passengers immediately abandoned the train for fear of being taken hostage.
It was gathered that the train left Warri early on Sunday and got derailed at around 12pm inside the thick forest between Ajaokuta and Itakpe, the report stated.
There were conflicting reports as to the cause of the train accident in which no one was reported injured.
Some claimed a section of the track was cut forcing the train to veer off the rail line.
But a source familiar with train operations at the Nigerian Railway Corporation told NewsTrends that the derailment was suspected to be caused by a point error “since the train derailed at a facing point where it wanted to negotiate its move to another line”.
Tweets by some of the passengers later showed that the security operatives aboard the train, the police and the Nigerian Army promptly came to the rescue of the stranded passengers.
They however did not provide the details of how they got out of the forest.
For instance, Sule Sulaiman, @sos0570
tweeted, “Kudos to the security men on board, PF Kogi Command and NA for the prompt response. All passengers are safe.”
Meanwhile, the NRC has reacted to the incident through a statement issued Sunday night by The Coordinator of Warri-Itakpe Train Service, Sanni Abdulganiyu.
The statement read, “The Warri Itakpe Train Service WITS 01 derailed at KM 30 Ajaokuta-Itakpe section of the track at About 12:30hrs of Sunday 22nd January 2023.
“Thankfully, there was no fatality and no casualty. We were immediately alerted and security personnel comprising the Army, Police, NSCDC, and the community vigilante were immediately drafted to the accident point with the assistance of the local government chairman.
“All the 148 passengers and 30 crew members were evacuated to a safe place and arrangements were made to convey 148 passengers to their various destinations and they have been successfully conveyed.
“The cause of the derailment is not yet determined. Due to this incident, the service along the corridor has been suspended. Further details would be communicated to members of the public.
“Repair and operation will resume as soon as possible.”
Railway
Nigerian Railway Corporation suspends Warri-Itakpe train after derailment
Nigerian Railway Corporation suspends Warri-Itakpe train after derailment
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the suspension of its train services from Warri in Delta State to Itakpe in Kogi State, starting from Friday, July 5th.
The suspension is due to an obstruction on the track, according to the NRC.
This is contained in a notice sent to customers titled “Public Announcement” on Friday, saying that the agency would likely resume operations on Monday, July 8, 2024.
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It read, “This is to officially notify our esteemed passengers that Warri-Itakpe Train will not run today being Friday, 5th July 2024 due to the obstruction we have on our track.
“We shall resume our normal train services on Monday 8th July 2024. Passengers who already booked their tickets online will be refunded.”
“All inconveniences is highly regretted. Thank you,” the statement added.
The train reportedly derailed on Thursday, July 4 at about 7.15pm.
A passenger on the train said it wobbled along its track at several locations and derailed.
It was however learnt that the NRC team was working to fix the problem.
Nigerian Railway Corporation suspends Warri-Itakpe train after derailment
Railway
NRC cancels first Abuja-Kaduna Thursday train after Wednesday derailment
NRC cancels first Abuja-Kaduna Thursday train after Wednesday derailment
…says vandals responsible
Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has cancelled its first Abuja-Kaduna Thursday train (today) scheduled to move by 8am after it experienced a derailment on the route on Wednesday.
It announced this on Wednesday evening in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department, Yakub Mahmood, while giving an update on the derailment.
The Abuja-Kaduna train AK3 had reportedly derailed at the Asham Railway Station about 30 minutes after leaving Kubwa, Abuja.
Mahmood said, “For operational reasons, the first train from Kaduna (Rigasa) scheduled for 08.00 hours will be cancelled on Thursday 6th June, 2024 only, while all other train services will run as scheduled.
“NRC management deeply regrets the inconveniences that this technical hitch might have caused our esteemed passengers.”
The derailment on Wednesday, according to Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Bimbo Olawumi, occurred at 3:52pm, shortly after the passenger train departed the Kubwa station, Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Mahmood in his statement said, “The passengers on board were safely returned to Abuja (Idu).”
He added that the tickets of passengers who could not use the train would remain valid for a subsequent journey within two weeks.
The NRC spokesman said, “This minor hitch is attributed to the removal of track fastening clips by vandals.
“However, the NRC management remains resolute towards ensuring the safety of our valued passengers in the entire system.”
Railway
Apprehension as passengers train derails in Kaduna
JUST-IN: Abuja-Kaduna train terails, passengers stranded
A passenger train on Sunday derailed at Jere along the popular Abuja-Kaduna route, leaving the travellers stranded in the mountainous area.
The train was said to have left Kaduna at 8.05am heading for Abuja but developed fault about an hour later and stopped at Jere.
It was not immediately clear how many passengers were inside the train.
It was however learnt that more armed security personnel had been mobilised to the area in addition to those on the train to allay the fears of the passengers and their family members.
Senator Shehu Sani, in an alert raised on his verified X handle, stated, “A Kaduna morning train derails near Jere but engineers are attending to it.”
Workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation have been drafted to the spot to repair the train, with about three carriages off the tracks.
Security personnel, including soldiers and police officers, are also on the spoke to keep watch over the passengers and the train.
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