Three dead as Warri–Itakpe train derails in Delta State

Three persons have been confirmed dead following the derailment of a train on the Warri–Itakpe rail corridor in Agbor, Delta State, on Monday.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, noting that emergency response teams had been deployed to the scene.

According to the corporation, rescue and recovery operations are ongoing as authorities work to support affected passengers and determine the cause of the derailment.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation 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 statement read.

The NRC said it was closely monitoring developments and promised a full report once preliminary assessments are completed.

In a separate update, the Presidency confirmed the fatalities, stating that three lives were lost in the incident.

“Sadly, three fatalities have been confirmed at this time,” the statement said, adding that relevant authorities were still assessing the full circumstances surrounding the derailment.

The Presidency also extended condolences to the victims’ families and urged the public to rely only on verified information as investigations continue.

The Warri–Itakpe rail line, one of Nigeria’s major transport corridors linking the Niger Delta to the central region, has faced intermittent operational challenges in recent years, raising renewed concerns over rail safety and maintenance standards.