The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has reported another derailment on the Warri-Itakpe train route, forcing an immediate suspension of operations just four days after the service resumed.

The incident was confirmed in a statement released by the corporation on Sunday.

The Warri-Itakpe train service, which had been suspended since August 2 due to a series of mechanical faults and technical issues, only resumed operations last Wednesday. The latest derailment marks a fresh setback for the corporation following the Kaduna-Abuja accident on August 26.

The Warri-Itakpe line, spanning approximately 350 kilometres, is the longest of Nigeria’s three modern rail routes, alongside the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna lines.

An NRC official, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the frequent derailments were largely due to vandalism by individuals targeting the corporation’s infrastructure.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, over 188 rail-related incidents have been recorded in Nigeria between 2020 and 2025, many linked to acts of vandalism by scavengers and organised criminal groups.

In the most recent update, signed by the NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, the derailment occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Kilometre 212+8m, Agbor, involving two of the train’s seven coaches.

Opeifa stated, “Preliminary investigations suggest that the derailment may have resulted from suspected track vandalism.”

He added that all passengers on board were safely evacuated to Agbor without any casualties or injuries.

“Our recovery team, with the support of security agencies, has been on-site since the incident occurred, conducting recovery operations. Progress is steady, and completion is expected soon,” he said.

Opeifa further announced that train services along the corridor have been temporarily suspended to allow for a full security and safety inspection of the track and its facilities.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause our valued passengers and the general public. Operations will resume once the route is confirmed safe,” he added.