Itakpe-Ujevwu Train Derails Four Days After Resumption, NRC Suspends Operation

Four days after resuming operations, the Warri–Itakpe train service has been suspended following a derailment on Saturday evening, Sahara Reporters reports.

The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the incident in a statement released on Sunday, saying two of the seven coaches derailed at Kilometre 212+8m in Agbor, Delta State, around 7:30pm.

According to the NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, preliminary investigations suggest the derailment may have resulted from suspected track vandalism.

Opeifa stated, “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.”

Adding: “Our recovery team, supported by security personnel, has been at the site since last night, carrying out recovery operations. These efforts are progressing steadily and are expected to be completed soon.”

The statement further read, “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.”

It continued, “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 derailment came just four days after the NRC officially resumed the Warri–Itakpe service on October 29, 2025, following a suspension that began on August 2 due to technical faults.

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The Warri–Itakpe route, spanning over 300 kilometres, is the longest of Nigeria’s three modern train services, alongside the Lagos–Ibadan and Abuja–Kaduna lines.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that more than 188 rail-related incidents have been recorded between 2020 and 2025, many linked to vandalism by scavengers and organised criminal syndicates.