By Ayomide Otitoju
Three passengers have been confirmed dead following the derailment of a train on the Warri–Itakpe corridor, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
The NRC confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Opeifa, saying emergency response teams and relevant authorities had been deployed to the scene to assist affected passengers.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirms that an incident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) occurred today.
“Emergency response teams and relevant authorities are currently at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance,” the statement read in part.
The corporation added that it was closely monitoring developments and would issue a detailed statement as more information becomes available.
Recent Suspension
The derailment comes less than a month after the NRC temporarily suspended the Warri–Itakpe Train Service due to what it described as operational exigencies and technical advice from its engineers.
At the time, the corporation said the suspension was necessary to conduct critical operational assessments aimed at ensuring safety, reliability, and improved service delivery on the route.
“The NRC regrets the inconvenience this development may cause passengers and other stakeholders,” the agency had said.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to resolve the issues within the shortest possible time.”
History of Derailments
The Warri–Itakpe corridor has experienced previous derailment incidents. In November 2025, the NRC attributed a derailment on the line to vandalism and later announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the incident in Agbor, Delta State.
Another derailment occurred in August 2025 involving a passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna. The incident reportedly happened shortly after departure from Abuja, causing panic among passengers.
Senate Investigation
Concerned by repeated derailments across the country’s rail network, the Senate in November 2025 resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the causes of the incidents. The probe was expected to examine rail infrastructure, maintenance practices, and the quality of imported materials used in the sector.
