Warri-Itakpe Derailment: 2 suspects arrested as NRC sets Wednesday for service resumption

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the Warri–Itakpe train derailment which occurred in Agbor, Delta State, over the weekend.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the arrests on Tuesday, identifying the suspects as Mudansuru Mutari (27) and Blorie Kokori (39).

NRC Managing Director, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, disclosed that the two men were apprehended around Kilometre 208, before Abraka, by operatives of the NRC Police Command in collaboration with local security agencies.

“Preliminary investigations and their confessional statements revealed their direct involvement in tampering with vital components of the rail track,” Opeifa said.

The NRC said the suspects were currently being interrogated by the Delta State Police Command and will soon be transferred to Abuja for further investigation to unravel the full details of the alleged sabotage.

The derailment, which happened at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, pulled two of the seven coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) off the tracks at Kilometre 212+8m, near Agbor.

According to the NRC boss, “Early findings indicated that the incident was caused by suspected track vandalism, following the discovery of missing or loosened fasteners and compromised track joints.

“This unfortunate act of vandalism endangered the lives of innocent passengers and disrupted train operations barely days after services resumed,” Opeifa stated.

The NRC immediately suspended operations on the corridor on Sunday, November 2, 2025, to allow for a comprehensive security and safety audit of the track and its supporting infrastructure.

Opeifa commended the prompt action of the Railway Police Command and community security outfits in the arrest of the suspects, describing their intervention as “swift, professional, and decisive.”

He also confirmed that re-railment and full restoration of the affected portion of the track were completed by Sunday evening, less than 24 hours after the incident.

“Our engineers worked round the clock to ensure the track was fully restored and safe for operations.

“Following a detailed inspection and operational audit, normal train services on the Warri–Itakpe corridor will resume on Wednesday, November 5, 2025,” he said.

Opeifa reiterated the NRC’s zero-tolerance policy on vandalism, describing the act as an economic sabotage with far-reaching consequences for public safety and national development.

He announced that the Corporation would intensify surveillance across all railway corridors, deploy advanced security technologies, and strengthen collaboration with host communities and security agencies.

“We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability.

”The protection of our passengers and assets remains paramount,” he said.

The NRC also appealed for public cooperation in reporting suspicious activities around railway tracks and installations to curb incidents of vandalism and theft of rail components.

Train passengers and commuters welcomed the announcement of service resumption, commending the NRC’s prompt restoration work.

However, some expressed concern over recurring vandalism incidents along the country’s rail lines.

Civil society groups have called for harsher penalties for railway vandalism, including prosecution under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, given its potential to cause mass casualties.

Meanwhile, security sources hinted that further arrests may follow as investigators trace the suspects’ connections and motives.

The Warri–Itakpe rail corridor, inaugurated for commercial service in 2021, has witnessed multiple disruptions linked to vandalism, theft of rail fittings, and encroachment along the line.

Saturday’s derailment occurred just four days after services resumed following earlier maintenance work prompting fresh calls for enhanced track protection and community policing partnerships.