NRC suspends Warri-Itakpe service after train derails

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended the Warri-Itakpe rail service after a train derailed on Thursday.

The train was travelling from Itakpe in Kogi to Ujevwu in Delta when the accident occurred at about 7.15pm.

Ediri Oyibo, a digital strategist who was on board when the accident happened, said the train wobbled along its track at several locations during the journey.

“As a frequent user of the train service, riding on the train from Ujevwu to Itakpe on Wednesday, 3rd of July 2024, I practically had my heart between my teeth when the train wobbled along its track at several locations; one, on top of a valley crossing,” he said.

“Riding on the train, something told me the Warri-Itakpe train service is a disaster waiting to happen. A derailment on top of a valley crossing will spell doom.

“Passengers on the trip reported how the train had earlier overshot a station it was supposed to stop due to brake failure.”

Taribio Walson-Oweifawari, a broadcast journalist who was also on the train, said the coach before hers almost fell off a high point when the train derailed.

“My coach is VIP and it is Coach 1. The coach immediately after ours was Coach 2 and it derailed. Hai!!! I just kept shouting Jesus when it looked like ours was going to tumble. Just a little bit more, that coach would have fallen off the high point, and taking our coach with it,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

On Friday morning, the railway corporation announced the suspension of train operations on the route.

“Due to an unexpected fault, train operations are suspended for today. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding,” the NRC said.

Last year, NRC suspended operations on the Warri-Itakpe rail service after a train derailed at kilometre 30, Ajaokuta-Itakpe section of the track.

In May, a train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja derailed in Jere.