The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has blamed recent vandalism for the derailment of the Warri‑Itakpe train. Managing Director Kayode Opeifa said the accident occurred despite recent maintenance work and security measures along the corridor. The train derailed in the Agbor area of Delta State, just four days after the resumption of service was announced.
Opeifa explained that the line had been shut down two months earlier to address safety and security concerns, during which extensive repairs were carried out. However, the area is prone to regular vandalism, with critical components such as fish plates and flat‑iron pieces being removed. In this case, four fish plates were missing, likely causing the derailment. The train had safely passed the same route earlier in the day from Onyewu to Itakpe via Agbor, indicating that the components were tampered with after that movement.
At the time of the incident, 503 passengers were on board, with 446 traveling beyond Agbor station toward Abraka, where the derailment occurred. All passengers were accounted for and safely returned to Agbor, where some received water, drinks and light refreshments under security watch.
The derailment site, located in the Ororigbe community between Agbor and Abraka, has been deemed unsafe for operations since June because of communal clashes and security concerns. The NRC has been working to secure the area, deploying a guard train to monitor the tracks and assigning personnel to maintain the line daily.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenges the NRC faces in ensuring the safety and security of its operations. Despite maintenance and security efforts, vandalism and other threats remain significant concerns, and the corporation will need to continue addressing these issues to ensure safe, reliable train service.
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