FG confirms four dead, 24 injured in Warri-Itakpe train derailment

The Federal Government has confirmed the death of four persons and serious injuries to 24 others following the train accident that occurred along the Warri–Itakpe Train Service corridor near Agbor, Delta State.

The confirmation was contained in a statement issued by the Nigerian Railway Corporation on Tuesday through the Federal Ministry of Transportation and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Funsho Adebiyi.

The statement disclosed that preliminary findings showed that four coaches capsized while another coach derailed during the incident.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) regrets to confirm that a serious train accident occurred yesterday along the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor near Agbor, Delta State,” the statement partly read

It added, “Preliminary reports indicate that four coaches capsized while one coach derailed, resulting in the unfortunate loss of four lives, comprising two adult females, one adult male, and one infant passenger.”

According to the ministry, 442 passengers had booked the train, while 40 crew members, security personnel, and third-party service providers were also on board.

“A total of 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,” the statement read.

The ministry stated that rescue and evacuation efforts commenced immediately after the accident with support from relevant agencies and the Delta State Government.

“Rescue and evacuation operations were immediately activated with the support of the Delta State Government, NEMA, FRSC, the Police, Civil Defence, local authorities, security agencies, and other emergency responders, and were completed by 6:30 p.m. Injured passengers were evacuated to medical facilities in Agbor for treatment.

“Other notable individuals on board included the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Patrick Ukah, among others.”

The statement further noted that, “As of the time of this release, 24 serious injuries have been recorded, while several other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical attention. One NRC staff member suffered a traumatic limb injury and is currently receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.”

The ministry expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.

“The Ministry and the NRC extend their deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the quick recovery of all those injured.

“The Corporation also appreciates the swift intervention of the Delta State Government, emergency responders, security agencies, the NRC Mechanical Directorate, the Special Rescue and Emergency Team, medical personnel, and members of the public who assisted in the rescue efforts,” the statement added.

It also said that the passenger manifest had been retrieved to aid identification and documentation efforts.

“The full onboard manifest has been retrieved and will be made available upon request by the relevant authorities. Efforts are ongoing to identify all the injured and deceased persons for proper documentation.”

The ministry noted that an investigation had begun into the cause of the accident.

“A full investigation into the cause of the accident has commenced, while efforts will continue to account for all passengers and provide the necessary support to those affected,” the statement concluded.

The incident occurred on Monday when coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service derailed near Agbor in Delta State, prompting an emergency response from relevant authorities. Initial reports by the Nigerian Railway Corporation had confirmed that emergency response teams and other agencies were deployed to the scene to assist affected passengers and assess the situation as rescue operations commenced.

Following the accident, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and directed state officials to coordinate rescue efforts at the scene. The governor described the incident as tragic and assured that the state government would continue to support survivors receiving treatment in medical facilities.