Four coaches of the Warri–Itakpe train derailed on Monday, leaving several passengers injured, while the whereabouts of some travellers remained unknown at the time of filing this report.
The incident has sparked concerns over the safety of rail transportation in Nigeria, with emergency responders and officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) moving swiftly to the scene to manage the situation.
Confirming the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, disclosed that emergency response teams and relevant authorities had been mobilised to provide assistance to affected passengers and assess the extent of the damage.
According to him, the Corporation is closely monitoring the situation and will provide a comprehensive update as more details emerge.
The Corporation is closely monitoring developments, and a detailed statement will be issued as soon as more information becomes available, Opeifa stated.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and rely only on official channels for verified information regarding the incident.
The Warri–Itakpe rail corridor, one of Nigeria’s major standard-gauge routes, connects Delta State with Kogi State and serves thousands of passengers travelling between the South-South and North-Central regions.
As rescue and assessment efforts continue, authorities are yet to confirm the exact number of casualties or account for all passengers aboard the train.
Further updates are expected as investigations into the cause of the derailment progress.
