Three passengers have been confirmed dead following the derailment of a train on the Warri–Itakpe rail corridor on Monday.
Confirming the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said emergency response teams and relevant authorities had been deployed to the scene to provide assistance and assess the situation.
In a statement signed by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Opeifa, the corporation said: “The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirms that an incident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) occurred today.
“Emergency response teams and relevant authorities are currently at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance.”
The NRC added that it was closely monitoring developments and would issue a detailed statement as more information becomes available.
The incident occurred less than a month after the corporation temporarily suspended operations on the Warri–Itakpe Train Service due to operational exigencies and technical recommendations from its engineers.
At the time, the NRC said the suspension was necessary to conduct critical operational assessments aimed at ensuring safety, reliability and improved service delivery along the corridor.
“The NRC regrets the inconvenience this development may cause passengers and other stakeholders and assures the public that efforts are ongoing to resolve the issues within the shortest possible time,” the corporation had stated.
The latest derailment adds to a series of rail safety incidents recorded in recent years.
In November 2025, the NRC reported a derailment on the Warri–Itakpe route, attributing the incident to vandalism of rail infrastructure. The corporation subsequently announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the incident in Agbor, Delta State.
Earlier, in August 2025, a passenger train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna derailed shortly after departing the Federal Capital Territory, causing panic among passengers, although no fatalities were reported.
Concerned by the recurring incidents, the Senate in November 2025 resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the causes of repeated train derailments across the country.
The planned investigation was aimed at examining the condition of rail infrastructure, evaluating the quality of imported materials used in the sector and identifying factors responsible for the persistent accidents.
