The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says it has launched an investigation into the recent train derailment incident at Jere station.
The incident which occured on Sunday involved a passenger train en route to Idu Station, Abuja from Rigasa Station, Kaduna.
Spokesperson for the NSIB, Bimbo Oladeji, said preliminary fact-finding undertaken by investigators revealed that the train was travelling at a speed of 90 kilometre per hour in the section leading up to Jere station.
The train, which departed Rigasa at 8:00am with 685 passengers and crew on board, was said to have approached Jere station at approximately 9:28am.
However, while navigating a switch point north of Jere Station, the Bureau said the baggage van and one passenger coach derailed.
The derailed coaches were then dragged approximately 86 feet from the switch point before coming to a stop.
Two drivers, two train guards, three travelling ticket collectors, 20 police escorts, and four bomb disposal unit members were onboard the train alongside passengers.
The board said thankfully, no passengers nor crew members were injured.
The NSIB added that its investigation seeks to determine the circumstances that led to the derailment.
As part of the investigation process, the board said it would collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), to analyse data from the On-Train Monitoring Recorder (OTMR) and other critical sources of information.
It urged the public to exercise patience and refrain from speculating on the causes of the derailment until the investigation is concluded and factual findings – presented.