The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has temporarily suspended services on the Warri–Itakpe route following the derailment of one of its trains on Saturday evening
The incident, which affected two of the train’s seven coaches, occurred at Kilometre 212+8m in Agbor, Delta State, around 7:30 pm. Preliminary investigations indicate that suspected track vandalism may have caused the derailment.
NRC Managing Director Kayode Opeifa confirmed that all passengers were safely evacuated and accounted for. “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.
Recovery teams, supported by security personnel, are currently working at the site. Operations will resume after a thorough security and safety audit of the track is completed. “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,” Opeifa added.
The derailment comes just four days after the NRC resumed services on the route on 29 October 2025, following a suspension that began on 2 August due to recurring technical faults. The Warri–Itakpe line spans over 300 kilometres, making it the longest of Nigeria’s three modern train routes.
The NRC expressed regret over the disruption and assured passengers that normal operations would resume once the track is declared safe. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics show that over 188 rail-related incidents have been reported in Nigeria between 2020 and 2025, with many linked to vandalism and criminal activity.
In August, an Abuja–Kaduna train derailment affected 618 people, leaving seven passengers injured and prompting a temporary suspension of services on that route. The NRC ensured that all affected passengers were evacuated safely and that refunds were processed through ticketing companies.
Past incidents highlight ongoing safety concerns. In January 2019, a train derailment at Ashade Railway Crossing, Agege, Lagos, claimed one life and left several passengers injured. Jerry Ochi, Lagos Railway District Manager, said efforts were immediately undertaken to restore normalcy at the scene.
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