NRC confirms incident on Warri–Itakpe route as emergency teams respond; latest derailment raises fresh concerns over rail safety.
At least three passengers have reportedly died following the derailment of a train on the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) on Monday, sparking renewed concerns about the safety of Nigeria’s railway network.
Confirming the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said emergency response teams and relevant authorities were immediately deployed to the scene to provide assistance to affected passengers.
In a statement signed by NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, the corporation said it was closely monitoring the situation and would provide further details as investigations progress.
The latest incident comes less than a month after the NRC temporarily suspended operations on the Warri–Itakpe corridor to conduct critical safety and operational assessments based on recommendations from its engineers.
The route has witnessed multiple derailments in recent times. In November 2025, a train on the same corridor derailed in Agbor, Delta State, an incident the NRC blamed on alleged vandalism of railway infrastructure. Two suspects were later arrested in connection with the case.
Another derailment occurred in August 2025 when a passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna reportedly left the tracks, causing panic among passengers.
With recurring rail accidents raising public concern, the Senate last year launched an investigation into the causes of frequent derailments and the condition of rail infrastructure across the country.
Meanwhile, authorities say efforts are ongoing to determine the cause of Monday’s derailment and ensure the safety of passengers on the affected route.