Barely three days after resuming operations, a Warri–Itakpe train derailed on Saturday night, raising renewed concerns about rail safety and vandalism along Nigeria’s major routes.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed that the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. at Kilometre 212+8m, Agbor, involving two out of the seven coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Standard Gauge train.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, attributed the accident to suspected track vandalism.
Opeifa said, “Preliminary investigations indicated that the incident may have been caused by suspected track vandalism.
“We wish to inform the public that a train derailment incident occurred on Saturday at approximately 19:30 hours, involving two out of the seven coaches of our WITS at Kilometre 212+8m, Agbor.”
He confirmed that all passengers on board were safely evacuated and that no casualties were recorded.
“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 stated.
The NRC said a recovery team, supported by security personnel, had been at the site since Saturday night to retrieve the derailed coaches and restore the track.
“The recovery efforts are progressing steadily and are expected to be completed soon,” Opeifa added.
As a safety precaution, the NRC announced a temporary suspension of train services on the Warri–Itakpe corridor to enable a full security and safety audit.
The NRC said, “As a precautionary measure, train services on the corridor have been temporarily suspended today to enable a comprehensive security and safety audit of the track and related infrastructure.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause our valued passengers and the public. Normal operations will resume as soon as it is verified safe to do so.”
Service Resumed Only Three Days Earlier
Saturday’s derailment came just three days after the NRC resumed operations on the Warri–Itakpe route, following months of suspension for “urgent and critical track repairs” after widespread theft of rail infrastructure.
The NRC had announced the resumption on October 29, assuring passengers that the line had been fully rehabilitated and fortified against vandalism.
The latest derailment comes barely two months after a similar accident on the Abuja–Kaduna line, which left several passengers injured.
Earlier this year, the NRC reported that a train carrying 618 passengers and crew members derailed mid-journey. Seven passengers sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation, a federal agency overseeing most inter-state train services, has been grappling with recurring incidents linked to track vandalism and theft of rail components.
While Lagos has successfully launched an intra-state electric rail service, most inter-state routes, including Warri–Itakpe, Abuja–Kaduna, and Lagos–Ibadan, still rely on ageing facilities vulnerable to both criminal activity and technical failures.
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