Passengers traveling from Itakpe in Kogi State to Ujevwu in Delta State narrowly escaped death when one of the train coaches derailed near Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident happened at about 7:15 pm on Thursday as the train approached the Abraka rail station.

According to Arise news frightened passengers jumped through the doors as the train slowed down, dragging the derailed coach and the remaining coaches with it.

Passengers had been enjoying a smooth ride until they reached the spot near the Abraka train station where the derailment occurred.

Abraka station is about a 20-minute rail journey from Agbaro, which terminates at Ujevwu station. Some passengers sustained minor injuries in the stampede that followed the derailment.

One of the passengers, Taribio Oweifawari, shared her experience on her Facebook page. She had missed her flight from Abuja to Yenagoa and decided to travel by train instead.

“My flight to Yenagoa from Abuja on United Nigeria was cancelled even before I left Yenagoa. So, after the Port Harcourt flight to Abuja was also cancelled at short notice, I decided to return by train,” she wrote. “On our way back today (Thursday), this is what happened: my coach is VIP and it’s coach 1. The coach immediately after ours is coach 2, and it derailed. Hai, I just kept shouting ‘Jesus’ when it looked like ours was going to tumble. Just a little bit more and that coach would have fallen off the high point, taking our coach with it.”

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright, confirmed the incident, stating that no deaths were recorded and passengers were rescued safely.