A cargo train commuting from Lagos to Kano derailed in the early hours of Saturday around Jebba, killing two persons (according to official accounts) and leaving scores injured.
The train left Lagos at 12:00 noon on Friday with dozens of passengers and consignments, a survivor told online newspaper, Premium Times.
The train wreck was put down to a brake failure at Jebba Train Station.
The survivor said the accident claimed at least four lives with undetermined number of injured commuters currently undergoing treatment at various emergency facilities in the town.
“The train left Lagos yesterday and crashed in Jebba this morning around 7 a.m. as it was trying to stop for those of us coming to Jebba,” the survivor said. “It was due to brake failure.”
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, who responded to the emergency however said two persons were confirmed dead after detached coaches from the train landed on passengers.
FRSC head of media relations, Bisi Kazeem, said the train was conveying goods to Kano, but had few passengers on-board.
“The accident occurred this morning near Jebba Paper Mill and we can confirm that two people, unfortunately, lost their lives and three people were injured,” Mr. Kazeem said. “The train is used more as a cargo train, but it had some travelers inside.”
Mr. Kazeem further stated that road safety officials and police worked together to rescue trapped passengers and evacuate the injured to the hospital.
“With the support of the police, we were able to get those who were trapped out alive and took those who survived injuries to the hospital.”
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