Train services on the Warri–Itakpe corridor have been suspended once again after a derailment incident in the Agbor area of Delta State, just four days after the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) resumed operations on the route.
The NRC confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday by its Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa.
According to the agency, the derailment happened around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and affected two of the seven coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS).
Although the exact cause is still under investigation, the corporation said preliminary reports suggest vandalism might have played a role.
“All passengers on board were safely evacuated to Agbor, and everyone has been accounted for. There were no injuries or fatalities,” the NRC said.
The statement added that recovery teams, supported by security operatives, had been deployed to the site and were working to restore normalcy.
As a precaution, the NRC announced a temporary suspension of services along the route to allow for what it described as a “comprehensive safety and security audit” of the tracks and related infrastructure.
“We regret any inconvenience caused to our passengers. Operations will resume only after we are satisfied that the line is safe for travel,” Opeifa stated.
The Warri–Itakpe line had faced several operational challenges in recent months with no CCTV or drone deployed to arrest the vandals.
Earlier this year, services were halted in April after multiple engine failures and again in February due to a technical fault.
Train movement had only resumed on October 29, 2025, following maintenance work and safety reviews.
The latest incident is expected to renew concerns about the state of rail infrastructure and security on one of Nigeria’s key intercity routes.
