The Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have confirmed a serious train accident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS), which occurred yesterday near Agbor in Delta State, resulting in fatalities, multiple injuries, and a major emergency response operation.
According to preliminary reports, four coaches of the train capsized while one coach derailed along the corridor, leading to the loss of four lives. The deceased include two adult females, one adult male, and one infant passenger.
The train was carrying 442 passengers at the time of the incident, alongside 40 crew members, security personnel, and third-party service providers, bringing the total number of persons on board to 482.
Emergency response operations were immediately activated and coordinated with the Delta State Government, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local authorities, and other first responders. The evacuation and rescue exercise was concluded about 6:30 p.m. the same day.
Injured passengers were swiftly transported to medical facilities in Agbor for treatment. As of the latest update, 24 passengers are confirmed to have sustained serious injuries, while several others are receiving treatment for varying degrees of trauma. One NRC staff member also sustained a traumatic limb injury and is reported to be in stable condition.
The Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, and former Secretary to the Delta State Government, Hon. Patrick Ukah, were also among those that saw to the evacuation of passengers on board.
The Federal Ministry of Transportation and NRC expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extending condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wishing a full and speedy recovery to the injured passengers.
They also commended the rapid response of emergency agencies, security operatives, medical personnel, and members of the public whose intervention helped in the evacuation and rescue efforts.
The full passenger manifest has been retrieved and will be made available to relevant authorities to support identification, documentation, and ongoing investigation efforts.
A full-scale investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the derailment and establish measures to prevent a recurrence, while authorities continue efforts to account for all passengers and support affected families.