NRC confirms June 8 incident as emergency teams respond; accident occurs weeks after service resumed and months after previous derailment

At least three passengers have been confirmed dead following the derailment of a train on the Warri–Itakpe railway line, raising fresh concerns over safety on the route.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said the incident occurred on Monday, June 8, 2026. In an official statement signed by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Opeifa, the corporation confirmed the fatalities and disclosed that emergency response teams, alongside other relevant authorities, were immediately deployed to the scene to manage the situation and assist affected passengers.

The NRC added that it is closely monitoring developments and will provide a more detailed update as investigations progress.

The latest derailment comes shortly after the Warri–Itakpe Train Service resumed operations following a temporary suspension for safety assessments and operational reviews. The corridor has faced previous disruptions, including a derailment in November 2025, which the NRC attributed to acts of vandalism.

The recurrence of such incidents is likely to intensify scrutiny on rail safety measures and infrastructure protection along the route.