A passenger train travelling along the busy Kaduna–Abuja corridor derailed on Tuesday morning, causing several coaches to overturn and spark panic among passengers.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described a chaotic atmosphere, as commuters scrambled to safety following the derailment. It is not yet clear if there were casualties, and the exact cause of the incident remains under investigation.

The Kaduna–Abuja rail service, one of the country’s most patronized routes, has faced repeated disruptions in recent years. Tuesday’s accident recalls the troubled history of the line, which includes the deadly armed attack of March 2022.

Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the latest derailment.

The incident comes barely a week after the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) reported a mechanical fault on the same corridor, when a coach developed a hot axle near Rigasa Station in Kaduna.

According to the NRC, the fault was swiftly contained and the affected train returned safely to Kaduna. At the time, the corporation warned of temporary service disruptions, particularly for business class passengers, while apologizing for the inconvenience.