The Abuja-Kaduna train on Tuesday broke down in a bush near Rigasa terminal, forcing hundreds of passengers to trek with their luggage to the station.
Some of the passengers told DAILYEXCESSIVE that the train, which left Abuja 6pm, developed a technical problem in the bush, about 100meters to its terminal around 8pm.
“The officials told us it will take three hours before another train comes from Abuja for take us to the terminal. So, everybody opted to trek to Rigasa,” said one of the passengers, Sani Lawan.
Although the Nigerian Railway Corporation has not spoken about the incident, officials who preferred not to be named told DAILY NIGERIAN that all the passengers had safely arrived at the terminal as the “distance was not far.”
“The distance was not far, and it will take at least 3 hours before a relief locomotive arrives. So, they chose to take their luggage and trek,” said an official who preferred not to be named.
It could be recalled that the train had carrying 600 passengers on Sunday, September 9, 2018, had stopped in a bush near Rijana in Kaduna State after crushing over 50 cows.
Sources said the area is notorious for kidnapping and armed robbery.
DAILY EXCESSIVE gathered that the train with registration number KA4 stopped for about 40 minutes, causing panic among the passengers.
Sources said the police arrested the herdsmen for allowing the cows to stray onto the track.
On September 7, another train broke down on the outskirts of Jere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, an area notorious for kidnapping and armed robbery.
The incident prompted anger and disappointment from the passengers on board the train, which took off at about 10:35 am and stopped in Jere at about 12:20pm.
