Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said that Tuesday's derailment of a train en route to Kaduna from Abuja at Asham, Kaduna State, left seven people injured.

NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, said a total of 618 persons, comprising 583 passengers, 15 NRC crew members, one medical personnel, eight cleaners, and 11 catering staff were successfully evacuated from the train.

"Out of this number, seven passengers sustained varying degrees of injury and were immediately transported by ambulances to hospital facilities by medical personnel mobilised to the site," Opeifa said in a statement.

He said the remaining passengers were conveyed safely back to Idu and Kubwa stations aboard a rescue train dispatched from Idu for that purpose. "All have since returned safely to their destinations," he said.

"In line with our commitment to passenger welfare, our third-party ticketing company has been directed to immediately issue refunds to all passengers onboard the affected service.

"Furthermore, the process of investigation into the incident has commenced, under the supervision of relevant authorities and the Federal Ministry of Transportation."

Opeifa revealed that, following the incident, all Abuja-Kaduna Train Services (AKTS) have been temporarily suspended, pending the recovery of the site, further clearance, and an official announcement of service resumption.

"We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and thank our esteemed passengers and the general public for their understanding," he concluded.

ASA