Again, Train Derails, Passengers Safe

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has calmed frayed nerves over reports of a train derailment Saturday.

The NRC confirmed on Sunday that all passengers involved in a train derailment incident on the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) are safe and accounted for.

The incident occurred yesterday, Saturday, November 1, 2025, at approximately 19:30 hours, involving two of the seven coaches of the train at Kilometer 212+8m, Agbor.

According to a statement on Sunday signed by Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, preliminary investigations suggest that the derailment may have been caused by suspected track vandalism.

Despite the incident, the NRC assured the public that all passengers were safely evacuated to Agbor, with no casualties or injuries recorded.

“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 read.

As a precautionary measure, train services on the corridor have been temporarily suspended on Sunday to enable a comprehensive security and safety audit of the track and related infrastructure.

The NRC expressed sincere regret for any inconvenience caused to passengers and the general public, promising that normal operations will resume as soon as the corridor is verified safe.

This incident has reignited concerns about the safety and maintenance of Nigeria’s railway infrastructure, with track vandalism emerging as a recurring challenge.

The corporation’s swift response and ongoing recovery efforts have been praised, though the temporary suspension of services may disrupt travel plans along the Warri-Itakpe route.

Authorities are expected to provide further updates as investigations into the cause of the derailment continue, with a focus on enhancing security measures to prevent future occurrences.