A passenger train heading from Itakpe to Warri derailed in Kogi State, leaving travellers stranded for hours before being rescued by security operatives.
Confirming the incident on Sunday in Lokoja, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP William Ovye-Aya, stated that all passengers were safely evacuated to the Ajaokuta train station and later assisted in continuing their journeys without any casualties.
He explained that the police acted swiftly after receiving a distress call about the derailment and stranded passengers. According to him, Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Kankarofi, immediately deployed officers to the scene to ensure the passengers’ safety.
The Commissioner personally visited the derailment site on Sunday for an on-the-spot assessment, meeting with officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and some of the passengers, Ovye-Aya said. He also directed the deployment of additional security personnel to safeguard lives, property, and railway facilities.
The police command reiterated its commitment to working closely with other security agencies to ensure the safety of passengers and infrastructure in the state.
This latest incident comes barely a week after another derailment on the Warri–Itakpe Train Service, just days after the route resumed operations on October 29, 2025. NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, confirmed that the earlier derailment near Agbor, Delta State, involved two of seven coaches. Fortunately, no lives were lost, and all passengers were safely evacuated.
Preliminary investigations suggest the cause may have been track vandalism. The recurring mishaps come just three months after a similar incident on the Abuja–Kaduna line, where seven passengers were injured.
Experts say Nigeria’s rail network continues to face challenges such as vandalism, poor maintenance, and aging infrastructure, issues that have long hindered the country’s efforts to build a reliable transport system.
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