Barely four days after train operations resumed on the Warri–Itakpe corridor, two coaches of the service derailed near Agbor, Delta State, late Saturday evening.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday, attributing the cause to suspected vandalism.
According to the statement signed by the NRC’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Opeifa, the derailment occurred around 7:30 p.m. and involved two out of seven coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS).
“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,” Opeifa stated.
He added that recovery teams, supported by security personnel, were immediately deployed to the site to restore operations.
Temporary Suspension for Safety Audit
As a precautionary measure, the NRC announced a temporary suspension of train services on the route pending 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 general public. Normal operations will resume as soon as it is verified safe to do so,” the statement read.
The Warri–Itakpe line has faced repeated disruptions this year. In April 2025, services were suspended for 72 hours after multiple engine failures, while operations were also halted in February due to a technical fault.
Train operations had only resumed on October 29, 2025, after a prolonged suspension for maintenance and safety checks.
