Apprehension as many passengers are stranded after warri – Itakpe bound train derail in Kogi

There was serious apprehension on Sunday as a train from Warri heading to Itakpe in Kogi state derailed, leaving many passengers stranded in a forest between Ajaokuta and Itakpe.

The incident was coming barely three weeks after gunmen stormed the train station in Igueben, Edo State, where many passengers were abducted.

Multiple sources said the incident happened inside Kogi forest, with many of the passengers said to have abandoned the train for fear of being taken, hostage.

It was gathered that the train left Warri early on Sunday morning and got derailed at about noon inside the thick forest between Ajaokuta and Itakpe.

Another source alleged a case of sabotage, saying that some of the rail tracks may nave be removed, which might be responsible for the derailment.

While the officer in charge, Paul Sunday could not immediately give an account of what actually happened, as he said he was heading to the scene of the accident, another source said that four coaches and the head coach of the train may have been badly affected.

While the stranded passengers were allegedly told by the officials of the Nigeria Railway Corporation to remain calm and sit back in the train to find a way of evacuating them to a safer place, the Kogi stated Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ayah, told our correspondent that the command has mobilised his men to the place to safeguard the stranded passengers, pending their evacuation.

He noted that the team from the command is to reinforce the security personnel attached to the train

As at the time of filing this report, the corporation officer, Paul Sunday was yet to get back to our correspondent as promised.