Passengers rescued after hours of panic as Warri–Itakpe line suffers another derailment — NRC, Police, and Senate move to address worsening rail safety concerns.

The Warri–Itakpe train line was thrown into chaos again on Sunday as a passenger train derailed in Adogo community, Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State — barely a week after operations resumed from a previous derailment in Delta State.

According to the Kogi State Police Command, officers swiftly moved into action to rescue dozens of stranded passengers after the train veered off its track midway through its journey.

Confirming the incident in Lokoja, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP William Ovye-Aya, said all passengers were safely evacuated to the Ajaokuta train station and later assisted to continue their trips to various destinations.

> “Upon receiving a distress call about the derailment, the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Kankarofi, immediately deployed a tactical team to the scene to ensure the safety of passengers and provide security cover,” Ovye-Aya stated.

The Police PRO disclosed that CP Kankarofi personally visited the derailment site for an on-the-spot assessment, where he met with officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and some of the affected passengers.

He added that additional security personnel have since been deployed to safeguard lives, property, and critical railway infrastructure in the area.

The command further reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with other security agencies to protect railway passengers and facilities across the state.

Recurring Nightmare on Nigeria’s Rails

Sunday’s incident marks yet another setback for the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS), which only recently resumed operations after a similar derailment near Agbor, Delta State, that halted train movement for several weeks.

Last week, NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, announced the successful restoration of the Agbor section of the track after extensive safety checks and an operational audit.

He also revealed that two suspected vandals had been arrested in connection with the removal of vital clips and fasteners that caused the previous derailment.

> “The suspects, aged 27 and 39, were apprehended around kilometre 208 before Abraka, Delta State, on November 4. Their confessions confirmed direct involvement in tampering with critical components of the rail line,” Opeifa said.

He commended the combined efforts of the Railway Police and local security networks in nabbing the culprits, adding that they would face full prosecution for sabotaging national infrastructure and endangering public safety.

Senate Steps In

Meanwhile, the Senate has expressed concern over the growing frequency of train derailments nationwide and has constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the safety and maintenance protocols of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

Lawmakers say the recurring incidents not only threaten public safety but also raise serious questions about the state of Nigeria’s railway infrastructure and its vulnerability to vandalism.

With two derailments within weeks on the same route, commuters are now calling for a comprehensive audit of the entire Warri–Itakpe corridor to prevent future disasters.