The Nigerian safety investigation bureau (NSIB) announced it has commenced an investigation into a train derailment that occurred on Sunday at Jere station. The incident occurred on an Abuja bound train from Kaduna that suffered a mechanical fault just outside the FCT.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the NSIB, Bimbo Oladeji, said preliminary fact-finding undertaken by investigators revealed that the train, while navigating a switch point north of Jere station, the bureau said the baggage van and one passenger coach derailed.
The derailed coaches were then dragged approximately 86 feet from the switch point before coming to a stop.
Two drivers, two train guards, three travelling ticket collectors, 20 police escorts, and four bomb disposal unit members were on board the train alongside passengers.
The bureau said no passengers or crew members were injured as all passengers safely disembarked and were transported with the rear locomotive and the remaining 8 coaches to Abuja.
“Preliminary fact-finding undertaken by our investigators revealed that the train was travelling at a speed of 90 km/h in the section leading up to Jere Station and reduced to 23 km/h on approach to the station.
“However, immediately after the Northern change point at Jere Station, the BVA and a coach of the train derailed,” the statement read.
The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), however, has assured passengers that normal train services between Kaduna-Rigasa and Idu Abuja would continue despite the derailment on Sunday morning.
