The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that no lives were lost in the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment that occurred on Tuesday morning, August 26, 2025. However, six passengers sustained injuries during the incident.
The derailment happened at approximately 11:09 a.m. near KM 49, between Kubwa and Asham stations, shortly after the train departed Abuja en route to Kaduna. Several carriages overturned, triggering panic among passengers and leading to chaotic scenes as people rushed to evacuate.
Eyewitnesses described the moment of the derailment as sudden and frightening. “It was complete pandemonium. People were running in all directions. We can’t yet confirm if everyone is safe, but we are hopeful that all passengers will be accounted for,” one passenger recounted.
While the exact cause of the derailment remains under investigation, preliminary suggestions point to possible vandalism. A source familiar with railway maintenance operations indicated that routine inspections have frequently uncovered missing components along the rail line.
“Every Wednesday, technical teams find that nuts, bolts, and other rail parts have been removed. By the next inspection, even more components are gone, and the cycle repeats. It is suspected that this tampering may have led to the derailment,” the source said.
In a statement released by NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, the bureau expressed sympathy for those injured and assured that a thorough investigation is underway.
Another statement by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said of the 618 persons aboard, only seven were injured.Below is a copy of the NRC statement: 
“A go-team has been deployed to the site to collect evidence, liaise with stakeholders, and determine both the direct and underlying causes of the accident,” Oladeji stated. “The goal is to issue safety recommendations that will prevent future occurrences.”
NSIB Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring safer rail transport across Nigeria. He emphasized that the bureau’s investigation will be comprehensive and transparent.
“Our investigators are already on the ground to conduct detailed assessments. We will continue to provide updates as the investigation progresses,” Badeh said. “NSIB’s mandate is to promote safety across all modes of transport by conducting objective and accurate investigations.”
The NSIB, a multimodal transport safety agency, reiterated its mission to identify the root causes of transportation incidents and recommend critical safety improvements across Nigeria’s transport infrastructure.
