NSIB begins investigation on Rigasa-Idu railway incident

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an investigation into the railway incident involving a passenger train operating on the Rigasa–Idu rail corridor to determine the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.

The incident that occurred on Monday happened after a passenger train carrying hundreds of passengers along the Abuja–Kaduna Railway reportedly collided with a freight train near Asham, injuring several travellers.

Kayode Opeifa, managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), in an official report, stated that the incident halted services along the busy corridor.

In a statement issued by Funke Arowojobe, director, public affairs and family Assistance, NSIB, the investigation will examine technical, operational, and infrastructure factors, including train configuration, locomotive attachment systems, operational procedures, and relevant operational data.

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According to the NSIB report, the occurrence took place at approximately 09:16 hours along the Jere–Asham section near Asham Station in Kaduna State. The section of track where the event occurred is located on a downward gradient.

The train, identified as KA2, departed Rigasa Railway Station in Kaduna at the commencement of its scheduled journey to Idu Station in Abuja. The train operated within the scheduled service window of 07:15 to 10:01, arriving at Jere Station at 08:52 before departing again at 08:59 to continue the journey toward Abuja.

Upon arrival at Jere Station, a rear locomotive was attached to the train to provide additional operational support for the onward movement along the corridor.

“Shortly after departure from Jere station, the rear locomotive became detached while the train proceeded along the downward gradient toward the Asham section.

“The detached locomotive subsequently rolled forward and struck the rear portion of the train, resulting in a serious operational occurrence,” NSIB stated.

The report also stated that at the time of the incident, the train consisted of two locomotives at the front and rear, one power car, two business-class coaches, and six standard passenger coaches.

The train conveyed a total of 429 passengers. Onboard personnel included 46 crew members as well as 24 security personnel assigned to the service.

“No fatalities were recorded, but some passengers sustained injuries. Immediate response actions were initiated by personnel of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and security personnel onboard the train. Medical personnel provided first aid assistance to affected passengers.

“Following the occurrence, the train proceeded to Idu Station in Abuja, where it arrived at approximately 10:39 hours, and additional assistance was provided to passengers,” the report noted.

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Commenting on the incident, Alex Badeh, director general of NSIB, expressed concern for the affected passengers and reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to uncovering the facts behind the occurrence.

“This incident reminds us that every transport journey carries the trust and expectations of hundreds of people who rely on the system to move them safely to their destination.

“Our thoughts are with the passengers who sustained injuries, and we commend the swift response of Nigerian Railway Corporation personnel and emergency teams who assisted those affected,” Badeh said.

He added that at the Bureau, every investigation is approached with a deep sense of responsibility because behind every occurrence are real people, real families, and real consequences.

“Our team will carefully examine every relevant factor to understand what happened and to ensure that the lessons from this occurrence lead to safer railway operations across Nigeria,” Badeh said.

The Bureau will work closely with the Nigerian Railway Corporation and other relevant agencies as the investigation progresses.

The NSIB is the multimodal transport agency charged with promoting transport safety and conducting objective, comprehensive, and accurate investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Nigeria, with the aim of identifying probable causes and advocating for safety improvements based on our findings.