No fewer than 200 passengers have been stranded following an accident involving a Kano-bound train which derailed in Jangaru community in Bosso Local Government of Niger State.

The passengers, currently taking shelter at Minna rail terminal, accused management of Nigeria Railway Corporation of abandonment.

Our correspondent, who was at the railway station on Tuesday, learnt that the passengers were evacuated from the scene of the accident by volunteers.

It was observed that they were sitting in the open space and sweating under the sun.

The 15-wagon train said to be carrying an unspecified number of people, mostly traders travelling to Kano en route Minna, derailed about 40 kilometres to Minna.

One of the passengers, simply identified as Rashidat, flayed NRC for not attending to the commuters.

She said, “If not for efforts of some individuals who came to the bush to rescue us, the situation would have been worse. NRC simply left us to our fate even though we didn’t board the train for free.”

Another passenger, Munirat Ajala, a Kolanut trader, said she had exhausted her money and had no means of continuing on the trip.

“For the past five days now, we have been on the road because the train left Lagos since Thursday. We have exhausted our money,” she lamented.

Punch