The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the resumption of train services on the Warri–Itakpe corridor following the successful restoration of the section of track affected by last weekend’s derailment near Agbor, Delta State.
The development comes as two suspects believed to be responsible for the vandalization of rail fasteners and clips—which led to the derailment—have been arrested by security operatives.
The suspects, identified as Mudansuru Mutari (27) and Blorie Kokori (39), were apprehended around Kilometer 208 before Abraka, Delta State, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, by operatives of the NRC Police Command in collaboration with local security agents.
Preliminary investigations and their confessional statements confirmed their involvement in tampering with vital components of the rail track, according to the statement.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, commended the Railway Police Command and community security networks for their swift and coordinated response.
He stressed that the Corporation will ensure the suspects face the full weight of the law for sabotaging national infrastructure and endangering public safety.
Opeifa reiterated NRC’s zero-tolerance policy toward acts of vandalism, describing them as economic sabotage and a serious threat to national security.
He reaffirmed the Corporation’s ongoing collaboration with security agencies to ensure that all individuals involved in such acts are apprehended and prosecuted, serving as a deterrent to others.
Providing an update on the restoration efforts, Dr. Opeifa confirmed that the re-railment and full repair of the affected section of the Warri–Itakpe track were completed on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Following a comprehensive safety inspection and operational audit, normal train operations have resumed today.
The Managing Director reassured passengers and stakeholders of NRC’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability, noting that the Corporation is intensifying surveillance, deploying advanced security technologies, and strengthening community engagement along all railway corridors.
