Abuja-Kaduna train attack

On March 28, 2022, gunmen attacked a Nigerian Railway Corporation passenger train traveling from Abuja to Kaduna, forcing it to derail near Katari village in Kaduna State. The attackers killed at least eight passengers and railway workers while kidnapping over 60 others, including women and children. The evening attack left many more wounded and stranded passengers in the remote area until rescue teams arrived hours later.

This attack occurred amid escalating insecurity across northern Nigeria, particularly along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor which had become a major target for criminal groups. The railway line, inaugurated in 2016 as part of Nigeria's infrastructure modernization efforts, had become increasingly popular as road travel grew dangerous due to frequent kidnappings. Security forces had struggled to protect the 186-kilometer route despite previous incidents and warnings from local communities about criminal activities in the area.