By Ademuyiwa Balikis
Barely three days after resuming operations, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended train services on the Warri–Itakpe corridor following a derailment near Agbor, Delta State.
The incident, which happened around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, involved two out of the seven coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service. According to the NRC, all passengers were safely evacuated to Agbor without any injuries or loss of life.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the NRC said preliminary findings suggest that the derailment may have been caused by suspected track vandalism. He said a recovery team, supported by security personnel, has been at the site since Saturday night to carry out recovery operations.
Opeifa explained that the suspension of train movement on the corridor was a precautionary measure to allow for a full 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,” he said.
The derailment occurred just days after the NRC resumed the Warri–Itakpe train operations on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, following earlier disruptions.
Although no injuries were recorded, the NRC’s confirmation that vandalism may have contributed to the incident has once again drawn attention to the persistent threat of damage to railway infrastructure across the country.
The corporation has assured that investigations are ongoing and that all necessary steps are being taken to restore the line and ensure safe operations before reopening the service.
