MThe Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed that four people lost their lives while 24 others sustained serious injuries following an accident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service near Agbor in Delta State on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday through the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
According to the NRC, four coaches of the train capsized while another coach derailed along the Warri–Itakpe rail corridor, resulting in the fatalities and injuries recorded among passengers on board.
The corporation disclosed that a total of 482 people were on the train, including 442 passengers and 40 crew members, security personnel, and service providers.
It stated that the deceased comprised two adult females, one adult male, and an infant. In addition to the fatalities, 24 passengers suffered serious injuries, while several others sustained varying degrees of trauma.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation regrets to confirm that a serious train accident occurred along the Warri–Itakpe Train Service corridor near Agbor, Delta State,” the statement said.
Emergency response teams, including personnel from the Delta State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were immediately deployed to the scene.
The NRC said rescue and evacuation operations were completed on the same day, with injured passengers transported to hospitals in Agbor for treatment.
Among those on board the train were Senator Ede Dafinone, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, and former Secretary to the Delta State Government, Patrick Ukah.
The corporation also reported that one NRC staff member sustained a traumatic limb injury and is currently in stable condition.
According to the statement, the passenger manifest has been recovered, while documentation of victims and affected passengers is ongoing.
The NRC announced that a full-scale investigation into the incident has commenced and assured continued support for injured passengers and the families of those who lost their lives. It also commended emergency responders for their swift intervention.
The Warri–Itakpe rail line has experienced several operational disruptions in recent years due to technical and safety-related issues. In May 2026, services were suspended for operational and safety assessments. Similar suspensions occurred in 2025 following technical faults and engine failures, while a derailment near Ujevwu in July 2024 led to a two-day suspension of services, although no casualties were recorded.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that derailments were the most common rail accident in Nigeria between 2020 and 2022, with 183 cases recorded. The period also witnessed 155 locomotive failures, 51 detachment incidents, 28 collisions, nine washouts, and 41 other rail-related accidents.
Railway operations across the country have also continued to face challenges from vandalism, including the theft of rail tracks and sabotage of signalling equipment, raising persistent concerns about safety and service reliability.
