NRC confirms Warri-Itakpe train derailment near Agbor, assures passengers’ safety and blames suspected vandalism for the incident

NRC has confirms Warri-Itakpe train derailment near Agbor, Delta State, assuring the public that no lives were lost and no passenger was injured in the incident that occurred on Saturday evening.

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The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, in a statement on Sunday, described the derailment as an unfortunate setback but commended the swift response of emergency and recovery teams.

According to Opeifa, preliminary findings suggest that the derailment, which happened around 7:30 p.m. at Kilometer 212+8m, may have been caused by suspected track vandalism. Two of the seven coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service were affected.

“We are pleased to confirm that all passengers on board were safely evacuated to Agbor, and everyone has been fully accounted for. No casualties or injuries were recorded,” he said.

Opeifa noted that a recovery team, working closely with security agencies, was immediately deployed to the site to begin retrieval and restoration operations. He described the ongoing recovery process as steady and effective, assuring that normal train services would resume once the damaged track was fully restored.

Reaffirming the corporation’s commitment to safety and reliability, Opeifa stressed that the NRC would continue to collaborate with law enforcement authorities to investigate the suspected act of vandalism and prevent similar incidents in the future.

“This event underscores the need for collective vigilance to safeguard critical infrastructure. Passenger safety remains our top priority,” he emphasised.

The NRC confirms Warri-Itakpe train derailment as part of its transparent communication effort, a move widely praised by commuters for maintaining public trust amid growing concerns over rail safety across Nigeria.