The Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have confirmed the death of four persons following the derailment of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service in Agbor, Delta State.
The incident occurred on Monday, June 8, 2026, when several coaches of the train left the tracks, prompting an immediate emergency response and rescue operation.
In a statement, the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, described the accident as a serious incident on the Warri–Itakpe rail corridor and said all passengers on board had been accounted for.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funsho Adebiyi, disclosed that 482 persons were on board the train, comprising 442 booked passengers and 40 crew members, security personnel, and third-party service providers.
According to preliminary reports, four coaches capsized while another coach derailed. The accident resulted in the loss of four lives, identified as two adult females, one adult male, and one infant passenger.
Adebiyi said rescue and evacuation operations were concluded by 6:30 p.m., with injured passengers transported to medical facilities in Agbor for treatment. He added that 24 people sustained serious injuries, while several others suffered minor injuries.
“One NRC staff member suffered a traumatic limb injury and is currently receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition,” the statement noted.
Among those on board the train were Senator Ede Dafinone and former Delta State Secretary to the Government, Patrick Ukah.
Opeifa said relevant authorities were continuing to assess the circumstances surrounding the accident while providing support to affected passengers and their families.
Both the Ministry and the NRC expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“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 stated.
Authorities also confirmed that a full investigation into the cause of the derailment has commenced and urged members of the public to rely on verified information and official updates as response efforts continue.
