The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said a possible sudden bogie or wheel defect may have been the primary factor in the derailment of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) in Delta State on June 8, 2026….
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said a possible sudden bogie or wheel defect may have been the primary factor in the derailment of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) in Delta State on June 8, 2026.
The NRC disclosed this in its preliminary report on the incident, signed by its Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, on Monday.
The train, which departed Itakpe at noon with 482 people on board, including 442 passengers and 40 operational personnel, derailed at about 4:17pm while approaching the Outer Home signal of the Goodluck Jonathan Railway Station at kilometre 177, Owa-Oyibu, near Agbor.
Five coaches, one locomotive and a power car were affected in the incident. Three coaches and the power car overturned, while other rolling stock derailed but remained upright.
The NRC said all passengers were evacuated within two hours with support from the Delta State Government, emergency agencies, police, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Emergency Management Agency, local authorities and medical teams.
Four people — three adults and one child — were confirmed dead, while 64 others sustained injuries.
According to the report, 28 passengers were treated and discharged at the Railway Hospital, Owa-Oyibu, while 36 others were taken to hospitals in Owa-Oyibu, Owa-Alero and Agbor.
Most of those admitted were discharged within 72 hours. Three people, including an NRC employee who required surgery, remained under specialist medical care, with two subsequently undergoing surgical procedures.
The Corporation also clarified that an earlier report of five fatalities was corrected after verification with the Delta State medical team responsible for handling the deceased.
Wheel defect under investigation
The NRC said its internal investigation involved site inspections, evidence collection, examination of operational records, technical assessment of locomotives and rolling stock, interviews with crew and other personnel, and reviews of medical and emergency response records.
The investigation also examined the track infrastructure, points, communication systems and the emergency response to the derailment.
“Preliminary observations indicate the possible sudden development of a bogie/wheel defect while en route,” the NRC said, adding that the possibility was being investigated as a potential primary factor.
According to the Corporation, such a defect could have caused abnormal wheel-rail interaction, excessive impact loading and loss of running stability.
The NRC also said the possible manner of brake application may have contributed to the severity of the accident.
However, it stressed that both issues remained working hypotheses pending further investigation.
“The definitive cause or causes of the accident will be determined through comprehensive analysis and will be set out in the final report,” it said.
No evidence of track vandalism
The NRC said its inquiry team found the railway points intact and no evidence of track vandalism at the accident site.
It noted that this differed from two previous WITS accidents on November 1 and November 8, 2025, which were attributed to track vandalism.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has also commenced an independent investigation into the incident.
The NRC said it was cooperating fully with the NSIB and would be guided by its findings and recommendations. The NSIB’s final report is still pending.
NRC recommends stronger safety measures
The Corporation recommended comprehensive inspections and safety audits of rolling stock, tracks and railway infrastructure across its operational corridors.
It also called for stronger maintenance and condition-monitoring programmes, timely replacement of defective components and improved availability of critical spare parts.
Other recommendations include reviewing operational safety procedures, strengthening compliance and enforcement, improving emergency preparedness, conducting regular rescue drills and enhancing coordination among emergency response agencies.
The NRC also recommended continuous professional training and competency assessments for staff, as well as sustainable funding for railway modernisation.
It further called for an enhanced insurance and compensation framework to provide adequate medical treatment, disability support and compensation for fatalities.
Service resumption depends on safety audit
The NRC said the track at the accident location had been fully recovered and restored, while the locomotives had also been recovered and were undergoing reconditioning.
However, it said the Warri–Itakpe service would only resume after the completion of a detailed track and equipment safety audit.
“The Corporation’s priority is to strengthen railway safety, improve operational resilience, and restore public confidence in rail transportation,” the NRC said.
Opeifa expressed the Corporation’s condolences to the families of those who died and said the NRC was committed to implementing recommendations arising from both its internal inquiry and the independent NSIB investigation.
