Twice, the train stopped before getting to Dutse, where it finally broke down.

Midat Joseph, an Assistant National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who is one of the passengers, said the train developed fault around 7:am.

“ I left my house as early as 5:am to join the 6:40am train but unfortunately I have been trapped here in this forest. This is not the first time I will be experiencing this mess,” he said.

Another passenger, said he had similar experience on Saturday, saying they spent six hours to get to Abuja.