Opeifa says four fish plates were removed from tracks; 503 passengers accounted for….
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has attributed Sunday’s Warri–Itakpe train derailment to vandalism along the rail line.
Speaking during a televised interview on Monday, Opeifa said the accident occurred despite recent repair work and ongoing security patrols along the corridor.
“Two months ago, the line was put on hold because there was a need for safety and security,” he explained. “We reopened after fixing almost every kilometre of the track, replacing clips, landrolls, and bolts in several areas. However, we also discovered that on this track, there are regular vandalisations, not just here, but on several routes through the bushes and our responsibility is to secure them.”
The derailment, which happened near Agbor in Delta State, occurred just four days after train services resumed on the Warri–Itakpe route following earlier maintenance shutdowns.
Four Fish Plates Removed
Opeifa revealed that investigators found four fish plates and flat iron joints missing from the affected section of the rail, the likely cause of the derailment.
“At the site that particular night, we discovered that four fish plates had been removed, and that possibly caused the incident,” he said.
He added that the train had safely passed the same section earlier in the day, suggesting that the vandals struck between trips.
“The same train had travelled from Onyewu to Itakpe via Agbor earlier that day without incident. That means the components were removed after that movement,” he said. “At the back of every train in this corridor is a guard train monitoring what happens behind. We still have our men working daily on these tracks.”
All Passengers Safe
According to the NRC boss, 503 passengers were onboard when the derailment occurred, including 446 travellers continuing beyond Agbor Station toward Abraka, where the incident took place.
“We ensured all 446 passengers were safely returned to Agbor,” Opeifa confirmed. “Those who chose to remain at the site were provided with water, drinks, and light refreshments under security watch.”
He identified the exact derailment spot as Ororigbe community, located between Agbor and Abraka, an area the NRC had previously flagged as unsafe for operations due to communal clashes and security threats.
Background
The Warri–Itakpe rail line, a key national transport route linking Delta, Edo, and Kogi states, has faced repeated disruptions from vandalism and security challenges.
Sunday’s derailment marks another setback for the NRC, coming shortly after the line’s reopening in late October following months of maintenance and security reviews.
