Passengers aboard a train travelling from Warri to Itakpe were left stranded in a remote forest in Kogi State on Tuesday after the locomotive reportedly broke down mid-journey, forcing commuters to trek for hours to safety.
Among the stranded passengers was Marxist activist, Kola Edokpayi, who documented the ordeal in a video shared on social media.
Edokpayi, who was en route to Abuja, said the train developed a fault in what he described as an “evil forest” with no mobile network coverage.
“We became apprehensive,” he said. “We were stranded in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by forest and with no idea how long the repair would take. So, we decided to start trekking.”
The passengers reportedly embarked on an hours-long walk through the bush in search of the nearest station or settlement.
The area, known to be frequented by armed herders, raised safety concerns among the commuters.
However, Edokpayi praised the Fulani herders they encountered, saying they were surprisingly helpful and guided the passengers through the forest.
“Contrary to the fear many of us had, they showed kindness and helped us navigate,” he said.
He called on the Federal Government to improve the maintenance of rail transport and enhance safety measures for passengers.
“Airlines cancel flights without notice, roads are unsafe due to kidnappers, and now trains are breaking down in forests. May God continue to help us in this country,” he lamented.
The incident has renewed public concerns over rail safety, coming three years after the March 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack, where gunmen killed eight people and abducted over 60 passengers.
That tragedy prompted widespread outrage and raised questions about the security of the country’s rail system.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation is yet to release an official statement on Tuesday’s incident as of press time.
