The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has officially confirmed that there was no casualty in an Abuja-Kaduna train derailment that occurred on Tuesday morning.
This was as the Bureau stated in a press release by its Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, that it has commenced investigation into the incident.
There was panic as the passenger train, traveling from Abuja to Kaduna, derailed, causing worries among passengers and their loved ones.
Newscoven.com learnt that the derailment occurred along the Kaduna corridor shortly after the train took off from Abuja around 11 a.m., en route Kaduna.
A passenger on board the train described the scene as chaotic, with people scrambling to safety in fear and confusion.
It remained unclear what caused the derailment, as sources reported that military personnel have been deployed to the site to assist in evacuating stranded passengers.
NSIB stated in the press release that it was aware of the derailment of the train, noting that it occurred at approximately 11:09 a.m., at KM 49 between Kubwa Station and Asham Station.
The Bureau stated: “Current information available indicates that six persons sustained injuries, and no recorded fatalities.
“A go-team has been deployed to the site to gather evidence, engage relevant stakeholders, and commence investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
“The Bureau sympathises with those injured and extends its support to all passengers affected,” affirming that it has commenced investigation into the train derailment.
“The investigation will focus on identifying the direct and underlying factors that led to the derailment, with the aim of issuing safety recommendations to prevent a recurrence,” it added.
Commenting on the incident, the Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said: “We deeply sympathise with all who sustained injuries.
“The Bureau has deployed investigators to the site to ensure the root cause of this derailment is uncovered.
“Our commitment is to ensure safer rail transport for Nigerians through a transparent and independent investigation.”
The NSIB Director General also assured that the Bureau will provide updates as the investigation into the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment progresses.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is a multimodal transport agency charged with promoting transport safety and conducting objective, comprehensive, and accurate investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Nigeria.
The Bureau aimed to identify probable causes of transport accidents and incidents and advocate for safety improvements, based on its findings.
