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The Nigerian Railway Corporation has confirmed that several passengers were injured following a train incident near Asham Train Station on the Abuja-Kaduna line on Monday morning.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, in a statement, said the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. and involved a rear locomotive making contact with the passenger coach immediately behind it due to a coupling issue.

Opeifa confirmed that the injured passengers were promptly attended to and transported to nearby medical facilities for proper care. He added that no fatalities were recorded.

The NRC MD also disclosed that emergency response protocols were immediately activated, and relevant technical teams were mobilized to the site.

According to him, Safety Investigation Bureau is also on site to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, in line with established safety procedures.

The statement added that train later arrived at Idu Train Station at approximately 10:39 a.m., 38 minutes behind schedule, after time was allowed to remove the affected locomotive and coach.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation assured the public that safety remains its top priority and that all necessary measures are being taken to address the situation and ensure the continued safe operation of train services.

It stated that further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

The Nigerian rail system has experienced frequent derailments, particularly along the Abuja-Kaduna route, prompting the Senate to launch a nationwide probe into rail failures in 2025.

In November 2025, the Senate resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the persistent derailments of the country’s rail lines.

The probe, which will include a public hearing, aims to uncover the root causes of recurring derailments and assess the condition of rail infrastructure, as well as the imported materials used in the sector.

According to the resolution, the ad hoc committee, to be chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, will also investigate loans received from China.

The committee was given six weeks to complete its findings and present a detailed report to the Senate.

Additionally, lawmakers directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation to immediately address the technical faults responsible for recent derailments and ensure that the nation’s rail system is restored to full operational capacity.

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Five foreign nationals from Burkina Faso have been abducted by suspected armed bandits while working at a gold mining site near Arafa village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The abduction reportedly occurred around 11:15 a.m. on March 14 when a large group of bandits, believed to have been hiding between Arafa and Gidan Dankande villages, invaded the mining site and forcefully took the workers to an unknown destination.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the heavily armed assailants fled into the surrounding bush shortly after carrying out the attack. By the time security operatives from a nearby Operation FANSAN YAMMA base arrived at the scene, the attackers had already escaped.

According to the sources, efforts are ongoing to locate the bandits and secure the safe release of the abducted foreigners, with security personnel currently combing the area for intelligence that could lead to their rescue.
The incident once again highlights the dangerous link between illegal mining activities and armed banditry in Zamfara State. Over the years, the North West’s rich deposits of minerals such as gold, copper and lithium have attracted both legitimate investors and criminal networks that exploit the resources for illicit gains.

Local sources say many bandit leaders in the region collect weekly royalties from miners, a system that has strengthened their control over several mining sites. Mining operations allegedly linked to influential or politically connected individuals are often left undisturbed, while ordinary miners face extortion, intimidation and repeated attacks.
These payments serve as more than protection fees; they provide crucial funding for criminal operations, including the purchase of weapons, logistics for kidnappings and the recruitment of more fighters.

The latest abduction of the five foreign nationals is seen as another reflection of this criminal economy.

In 2019, the federal government banned gold mining in Zamfara in an effort to curb illegal mining and rising insecurity. Two years later, authorities also introduced a no-fly zone to stop the smuggling of minerals and weapons. However, the measures failed to reduce violence, as deaths linked to insecurity in the state reportedly increased by 183 percent in the four years following the ban.

The ban also had unintended consequences. Thousands of miners who had already been displaced from their farmlands due to insecurity were forced to operate under the control of armed groups. Profits from these illegal mining activities further financed attacks, kidnappings and cross-border recruitment of bandits.

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President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to distribute rice across Nigeria to support citizens observing Ramadan and Lenten fasts.

According to a statement from the Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, the distribution will be coordinated through the group’s grassroots network across states, local governments, and wards to ensure fair reach and transparency.

The initiative is aimed at fostering national unity and demonstrating compassion during a period of deep spiritual significance for both Muslims and Christians.

“Ramadan and Lent are seasons of sacrifice, charity, and care for one another,” the statement said. “This distribution will ensure that families across Nigeria experience the spirit of togetherness during this sacred time.”

This follows a similar rice distribution last Christmas, reflecting the administration’s commitment to supporting citizens during key religious and cultural occasions.

The program will cover both Christian and Muslim communities, emphasizing the President’s focus on inclusivity and unity across the nation.