The tragic death of Selimota Idowu, a principal accountant with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Abuja, at a railway crossing in a suburb of Abuja, has brought to light the dangers many rural communities along rail lines are exposed to as they go about their daily lives.
Mrs Idowu, a mother of three, was crushed in her car by a moving train on the Abuja-Kaduna track on December 15, 2022, at a crossing in Chikakore axis of Kubwa, a satellite town in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The tragedy came just days after the Abuja-Kaduna train service resumed operations. In March, the government suspended operations on the route after an attack on a Kaduna-bound train on March 28, by terrorists leading to the death and abduction of several passengers. The abducted passengers were released in batches, with the last set freed in October.
Daily Trust correspondent, who visited the community on Saturday, reports that residents were not only in a mourning mood but also asking how such a tragedy would be stopped by the relevant authorities.
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Many of those spoken to at the residence of the deceased lamented the incident with some saying it was not the first time such a tragedy happened.
It was gathered that the spot where the incident happened is the only access road to the community, named ‘Agwan-Fulani’.
A cross-section of residents who spoke to our correspondent said an overhead bridge should be built to prevent reoccurrence.
Ismail Olaposi Yusuf, the chairman of Chikakore Community Zone-E, said Idowu was driving out of the community when she met her death.
He said it took men of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to lift the train before they could remove the damaged car and the corpse.
“The incident was very unfortunate and a tragedy for the whole community, not just the family members. It was only when NEMA, FEMA and some other government authorities came that they were able to lift the train and remove the vehicle and the corpse,” he said.
He said the authorities should build a bridge or a barricade with a signal to warn motorists and commuters.
“I am using this opportunity to appeal to the government and the authorities concerned, particularly the Minister of Transport, the FCT minister and the managing director or chairman of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), to come to our aid.
“The entrance where that ugly incident occurred is the only exit into this community. We have about 300 families living within this community with other attached communities which I can’t even estimate their number. They all use this small level crossing as our road.
“What we need here, as has been done in other places is an overhead bridge. We can have a barricade and at least two personnel stationed on both sides of the track so that any vehicle approaching would know whether to cross or stop to allow an approaching train to pass.”
He faulted reports, especially on social media claiming that the woman committed suicide.
“I have seen a lot of comments on social media. People are thinking that the woman committed suicide. People will not understand. It was only when she got to the train track that she saw the train coming.
“Most times, the trains do not sound their horn to alert people of their approach. Sometimes they sounded the horn when the train was close to the crossing. That was how the incident happened. She was caught unawares at the rail track, and the train dragged her vehicle with her for some kilometres before it stopped,” he said.
An engineer, Joshua Hyetson, who also lives in the community, said many people have died from similar circumstances along the axis.
According to him, a letter was written to the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, after a series of deaths had been recorded.
“At a point, we had to write a letter requesting an overhead bridge, which brought the then Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, here. We were convinced that something would be done, but we are shocked it is still the same way it was to date.
“This is the only access road to the community. In May this year, a primary school pupil was killed on that spot by a passenger train. Early this year, a tipper was crushed. No death was recorded because those in the vehicle jumped out before it got to them,” he said.
Another resident, Haruna Taiwo, attributed the latest incident to overspeeding on the part of the train driver.
“The speed of the train was high because the impact on the vehicle shows that much. If it was driving as it should, the impact wouldn’t have gotten to that extent. A train is programmed to reduce its speed when it’s getting to a train station.”
Another resident, who simply gave his name as Chukwunonso, while lamenting the incident, said he had been in the community for over 10 years.
Narrating how he lost a close friend last year, he said, “It is quite unfortunate that this has happened again. I have been in this community for over 10 years. I lost a very good friend of mine close to that very spot last year. We were at the rail track together around 8pm.
“I didn’t even know the train was close by. As soon as I left, I heard the train had crushed someone. It turned out to be my friend. They don’t always blow their horn from afar.”
Also talking with our correspondent, a transport expert, Dr Rufus Adigun, said the number of accidents recorded on rail lines in Nigeria is higher compared to the number of trains moving per day.
He said if the current rate of accidents was not checked, there would be more calamities ahead going by the federal government’s drive to increase its investment in the rail transport sector.
He urged the Nigeria Railway Corporation to discourage all forms of human activity near the rail lines.
He said, “The right-of-way of the Nigeria Railway Corporation should be clearly identified. The NRC should construct fences on its right-of-way, especially near the level crossings.
“All market stalls and unauthorised developments near the railway tracks should be demolished. Illumination at level crossings is very essential because of any night train movements.”
The level crossing of the rail lines needed signs and activated gates, according to Adigun
“The activated gates would require circuitry detection, which will enable automatic flashing lights and descent of gates when the train is approaching,” he said
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command has said it has begun an investigation into the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
In a statement, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, said: “Findings and safety tips already existing will soon be reiterated to ensure no recurrence of such an incident.”
The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) is yet to react to the incident as of Saturday evening.
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