The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says two suspects have been arrested in connection with the derailment of a Warri–Itakpe train in Agbor, Delta State, over the weekend.
In a statement on Tuesday, NRC Managing Director Kayode Opeifa identified the suspects as Mudansuru Mutari (27) and Blorie Kokori (39). He said the men were arrested at Kilometre 208 before Abraka, Delta State, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, by operatives of the NRC Police Command in collaboration with local security agents.
“Preliminary investigations and their confessional statements revealed their direct involvement in tampering with vital components of the rail track,” Opeifa said, adding that the suspects are being interrogated by the police in Delta State and may be transferred to Abuja for further investigation.
The derailment, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, affected two of the seven coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) at Kilometre 212+8m near Agbor. No casualties were recorded.
Opeifa had earlier attributed the incident to suspected track vandalism, prompting the temporary suspension of services on the corridor for a comprehensive security and safety audit.
He confirmed that the damaged portion of the track was fully restored by Sunday, November 2, 2025, and that normal operations will resume on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
The NRC boss commended the Railway Police Command and community security networks for their swift response, reiterating the corporation’s zero-tolerance stance on vandalism, which he described as an economic crime.
Opeifa assured passengers that the NRC remains committed to the highest standards of safety and reliability, with increased surveillance, deployment of advanced security technologies, and strengthened community partnerships along all rail corridors.
He thanked passengers for their patience during the suspension of services.
