The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed the death of four passengers following a train accident involving the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) near Agbor in Delta State.
According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Transportation on 9 June, 2026, , four coaches capsized while one coach derailed, resulting in the deaths of two adult women, one adult male and an infant.
The NRC disclosed that 442 passengers were booked on the train, while 40 crew members, security personnel and third-party service providers were also on board, bringing the total number of persons on the train to 482 at the time of the incident.
The corporation said rescue and evacuation operations were immediately activated with support from the Delta State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, Civil Defence, local authorities and other emergency responders.
It noted that the rescue operation was completed by 6:30 p.m., while injured passengers were evacuated to medical facilities in Agbor for treatment.
As of the time of the statement, 24 serious injuries had been recorded, while several other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and were receiving medical attention. The NRC also reported that one of its staff members suffered a traumatic limb injury and was in stable condition.
Among the passengers on board were the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Patrick Ukah.
The corporation extended its condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery. It also commended the Delta State Government, emergency responders, security agencies, medical personnel and members of the public for their swift intervention during the rescue operation.
The NRC further stated that the full passenger manifest had been retrieved and would be made available to relevant authorities upon request, while efforts were ongoing to identify all injured and deceased persons.
A full investigation into the cause of the accident has commenced, with the corporation assuring that efforts would continue to account for all passengers and provide support to those affected.
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