Rail services on the warri-Itakpe corridor have again be suspended following the derailment of a passenger train just four days after operations resume on the route.
The Nigeria Railway Corporation confirmed the incident in a statement, describing it as a setback for its renewed operations along the 350-kilometre modern rail line.
According to the NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, the derailment occurred at about 7:30 p.m on Saturday near Agbor, involving two of the seven coaches of the train.
All passengers on board were safely evacuated, and no injuries or casualties were recorded.
Preliminary investigations suggest the incident may have been caused by suspected track vandalism.
A recovery team, supported by security personnel, has since been deployed to the site to restore normal operations.
Opeifa noted that, as a precautionary measure, train services on the corridor have been temporarily suspended to allow for a comprehensive safety and security audit of the track and related infrastructure.
The NRC apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused and assured that normal train operations will resume once the line is certified safe.
Reports indicate that over 188 rail-related incidents have been recorded in Nigeria between 2020and 2025, many linked to vandalism and criminal activities targeting railway infrastructure.
The Warri-Itakpe line remains one of the country’s key modern rail routes, alongside the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja- Kaduna lines.
