Warri-Itakpe Train Crash: Full Manifest Retrieved, FG, NRC Condole Families of Five Dead

The Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have said the full manifest of passengers and crew members aboard the ill-fated Warri–Itakpe train has been retrieved, even as they extended condolences to the families of the five persons who lost their lives in Monday’s accident near Agbor, Delta State.

In a joint update on the incident, the ministry and the NRC said efforts were ongoing to identify all injured passengers and deceased victims for proper documentation, while assuring that relevant authorities would have access to the complete onboard manifest.

The agencies confirmed that five persons — four adults and a baby — died when four coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) capsized and another derailed along the corridor. They added that 24 passengers sustained serious injuries, while several others suffered varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical treatment.

According to the statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, a total of 442 passengers had booked for the journey, while 40 crew members, security personnel and third-party service providers were on board, bringing the total number of persons on the train to 482.

The ministry said rescue and evacuation operations were immediately activated following the accident, with support from the Delta State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Police, Civil Defence, local authorities and other emergency responders.

The rescue efforts, which were completed by 6:30 p.m., also received assistance from the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Patrick Ukah.

The ministry and the NRC expressed their deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident.

They also commended the Delta State Government, emergency response agencies, security operatives, medical personnel, the NRC Mechanical Directorate and the corporation’s special rescue and emergency team for their swift intervention.

The statement added that a full investigation into the cause of the accident had commenced, assuring that authorities would continue to account for all passengers and provide necessary support to those affected by the tragedy.

NRC Confirms Warri–Itakpe Train Accident, Three Passengers Dead

Three passengers reportedly died and many others injured on Monday following the derailment of a train operating on the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS), raising fresh concerns about safety and operational challenges on one of Nigeria’s most important standard-gauge railway corridors.

The accident occurred at Agbor, Delta State, along the Warri–Itakpe route, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

In a statement signed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the corporation disclosed that rescue and emergency operations were ongoing while efforts were being made to determine the full extent of the accident.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation confirms that an incident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service occurred today. Emergency response teams and relevant authorities are currently at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance,” the statement said.

The NRC said it was closely monitoring developments and promised to provide further details as investigations progress.

Although the corporation did not immediately state the number of casualties or injuries, sources familiar with the incident said three passengers lost their lives in the derailment.

Monday’s accident is the latest setback for the rail corridor, which has experienced a series of operational disruptions in recent years.

In April 2025, the NRC suspended train operations on the Warri–Itakpe route for 72 hours after a major technical failure left hundreds of passengers stranded in a remote forest area in Kogi State for several hours.

The disruption sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the reliability and maintenance of the service.

The corporation attributed the incident to multiple engine failures and subsequently launched investigations while carrying out repairs before resuming operations.

The Warri–Itakpe line has also faced vandalism of railway infrastructure and security concerns along parts of the corridor.

Commissioned as Nigeria’s first standard-gauge rail line dedicated initially to freight movement before passenger services were introduced, the route links Warri in Delta State with Itakpe in Kogi State, serving thousands of passengers and facilitating the movement of goods across several states.

Transportation stakeholders have repeatedly called for stronger safety measures, improved maintenance culture and increased investment in rail infrastructure to prevent recurring incidents and enhance public confidence in the country’s rail transport system.

NSCDC Seals Chinese-Linked Steel Company, Arrests 12 Over Railway Track Vandalism

Kaduna, Nigeria – The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has sealed facilities belonging to a Chinese-linked steel company across the country following allegations of involvement in railway vandalism and the illegal recycling of critical national infrastructure . The enforcement action targeted Inner Galaxy Steel Company and other associated facilities after months of intelligence-led investigations linked the firm to the alleged handling, compression, and melting of vandalised railway materials .

The operation, which followed weeks of intensive surveillance, was triggered by a viral video on social media that showed extensive vandalism of the newly laid Kaduna-Kano railway tracks as well as older rail infrastructure across parts of Northern Nigeria . After the video circulated widely, the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi , directed the Special Intelligence Squad (SIS) , led by Commandant Apollos Dandaura, and the Kaduna State Command to identify and arrest those responsible for the economic sabotage.

Speaking on Sunday at the company’s premises in Birnin Yero, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State , the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi , said the operation followed the arrest of suspects and the recovery of railway tracks and sleepers from the facility . Afolabi disclosed that the corps had obtained a court order and search warrant authorising the sealing of the premises and the preservation of recovered exhibits for prosecution by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) , which has since commended the NSCDC for its sustained crackdown on railway vandals.

According to Afolabi, preliminary findings from the investigation revealed a sophisticated criminal syndicate operating under the guise of legitimate business. Vandalised railway materials were allegedly transported to the company’s Kaduna facility, where they were compressed into scrap metal to conceal their original form. From Kaduna, the compressed materials were transported to the company’s head office in Aba, Abia State . There, the stolen national assets were allegedly melted down and recycled into products such as roofing sheets, nails, and iron rods , which were then sold back to the public. The NSCDC described this as a sophisticated local and international network engaging in economic sabotage.

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Afolabi added that the court order covered Inner Galaxy Steel Company and Jiuxing Integrity Industrial Ltd , as well as other linked facilities in Abia and Zamfara states , including branches nationwide suspected to be connected to the case . The NSCDC confirmed that the enforcement operation has effectively shut down the company’s ability to continue processing stolen materials while investigations proceed.

The NSCDC has confirmed that 12 suspects are currently in custody in connection with the railway vandalism case . Those arrested from the Kaduna facility have been identified as Usman Hassan, 27 (company manager), Bilyaminu Usman, 30 (weighbridge operator), Choji John Pam, 40 (weighbridge officer), Jamilu Isah Jaafar, 37 (scrap collector), Chukwuemeka Udonwoke, 38 (supervisor), Chikwodilli Ezema, 29 (company manager), and Isaac Etim, 36 (scrap leader) . According to the corps, some of these suspects have allegedly confessed to their roles in the criminal network, providing valuable intelligence that is aiding the ongoing investigation.

The suspects are being investigated for alleged offences bordering on conspiracy to commit felony , intentional endangering of railway passengers , obstruction and destruction of railway infrastructure , theft , concealment of stolen property , and alleged financing of terrorism . The NSCDC stated that these charges reflect the severity of the crimes, which not only rob the nation of critical infrastructure but also endanger the lives of passengers who rely on the railway network for daily transportation.

Recovered exhibits from the company’s facilities include large quantities of vandalised railway tracks and sleepers , suspected NNPC and Water Board pipes valued at billions of naira, as well as specialised machines allegedly used for compressing and concealing the stolen materials . The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) , Dr. Kayode Opeifa , represented by NRC Chief Technical Officer Paul Doche, confirmed that NRC officials had visited the sealed facility and identified some of the corporation’s stolen materials. “We have gone round and identified some of our materials there. These are national assets,” Doche stated, adding that officials were still working to determine the full volume of recovered items because many remained buried under metal debris.

Afolabi also disclosed that Chinese nationals linked to the company have been summoned for questioning but were yet to appear before investigators . While the corps did not name the individuals, the summoning indicates that the investigation is reaching into the upper management levels of the company, and the NSCDC has made it clear that no one, regardless of nationality or status, will be shielded from prosecution if found culpable.

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“The facility will remain sealed pending the conclusion of investigations,” Afolabi stated firmly . He added that all recovered railway sleepers and tracks would be transferred to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as exhibits for prosecution, ensuring that the stolen assets are preserved as evidence in the impending legal proceedings.

In a related development, NSCDC operatives also arrested five additional suspects over the alleged vandalism of railway infrastructure along the Kaduna-Abuja corridor in Gwagwada community, Chikun Local Government Area . Items recovered from those suspects included railway tracks, railway sleepers, and gas cylinders allegedly used to cut and damage the rail infrastructure, further demonstrating the widespread nature of railway vandalism across the region.

The NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi , has directed the Special Intelligence Squad to ensure a thorough and professional investigation, stressing that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted regardless of their status or nationality . “Under this leadership, the NSCDC will not treat economic sabotage with kid gloves. We are going after the sponsors,” the Commandant General was quoted as saying. “This operation marks the beginning of a new phase in our crackdown on syndicates supporting vandalism under any disguise.”

Audi urged members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence to support efforts aimed at curbing vandalism and protecting critical national assets . He commended the judiciary for granting the court order that enabled the sealing operation and appreciated members of the media for supporting efforts to expose economic crimes and safeguard national assets.

This is not the first time a Chinese-linked steel company has been implicated in Nigeria’s railway vandalism crisis. In May 2021 , the Nasarawa State Police Command arrested Marra Thai , a Chinese national and manager of Yong Xing Steel Company in Tunga Maje, Abuja, for allegedly acting as a “criminal receiver” of stolen railway tracks and sleepers . That case also led to the arrest of a governor’s aide, two police officers, an NSCDC personnel, and a former supervisory councillor, highlighting the deep and persistent nature of the criminal networks targeting Nigeria’s railway infrastructure.

The destruction and theft of Nigeria’s railway infrastructure represent one of the gravest threats to national development and security. Across the nation, from the Warri-Itakpe line to the Abuja-Kaduna corridor , the Eastern and Western Districts, the Lagos-Ibadan railway, and throughout the Northern network, vandals systematically dismantle tracks, steal armoured cables, and pillage essential equipment. The NSCDC’s latest operation demonstrates a renewed commitment to dismantling the supply chains that make this vandalism profitable.

As of May 25, 2026 , Inner Galaxy Steel Company’s facilities across Nigeria remain sealed. The 12 arrested suspects are in NSCDC custody, and investigations are ongoing. Chinese nationals linked to the case have been summoned but have yet to appear before investigators. The NSCDC has stated that anyone found culpable will face prosecution in accordance with the law, sending a clear message that economic sabotage will not be tolerated.

NSCDC Seals Chinese-Linked Steel Company, Arrests 12 Over Railway Track Vandalism