The Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, said its Warri–Itakpe Train service derailed on Monday evening, with four coaches capsizing in an accident that left three people dead, according to the corporation’s managing director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Opeifa disclosed that emergency response teams have been deployed to the scene around Agbor to assist passengers and manage the aftermath of the derailment.
“The corporation is closely monitoring developments and will provide a comprehensive update as more details emerge on the cause and extent of the derailment,” he said.
He urged the public to remain calm and rely only on official communication channels for updates on the accident.
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The latest accident is likely to deepen concerns about rail safety in Nigeria, coming after a series of derailments and service disruptions on key corridors over the past year.
In November 2025, the NRC suspended the Warri–Itakpe service after two of the train’s seven coaches derailed near Agbor at about 7:30 p.m. The corporation said at the time that all passengers were safely evacuated and that no casualties or injuries were recorded. Preliminary findings cited suspected track vandalism, and the route was shut temporarily for security and safety checks.
That November incident came only days after the Warri–Itakpe corridor had resumed operations following an earlier suspension for repairs and maintenance, underscoring the operational challenges on the line.
Earlier, on August 26, 2025, an Abuja–Kaduna passenger train derailed at Asham Train Station. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau said the train, made up of eight coaches and two locomotives, derailed at about 11:07 a.m. and left 12 people with minor to moderate injuries, with no fatalities reported. The derailment damaged tracks and switching equipment and forced a temporary suspension of services on the corridor.
The NRC later said its internal investigation into the Abuja–Kaduna accident found that human error and excessive speed were responsible.
Nigeria’s inter-city rail services have long struggled with infrastructure problems, vandalism and maintenance issues, with officials and operators repeatedly pledging safety upgrades after major incidents. Monday’s Warri–Itakpe derailment is likely to renew pressure on the NRC and regulators to explain what went wrong and what additional safeguards will be put in place.
Crediblenewsng.com
