NRC Nabs Two Suspected Vandals Over Warri-Itakpe Train Derailment
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has disclosed the arrest of two suspected vandals believed to be responsible for the removal of rail clips and fasteners that led to the recent derailment of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) near Agbor, Delta State.
NRC made the disclosure on Tuesday in a statement signed by the Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa.
The suspects, identified as Mudansuru Mutari (27) and Blorie Kokori (39), were apprehended around Kilometer 208 before Abraka, Delta State, by operatives of the NRC Police Command in collaboration with local security agents.
According to the corporation, preliminary investigations and the suspects’ confessional statements confirmed their involvement in tampering with vital rail track components.
Opeifa commended the Railway Police Command and community security networks for their swift and coordinated action.
He assured that the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law, describing their actions as sabotage against national infrastructure and a grave threat to public safety.
Dr. Opeifa reaffirmed the Corporation’s zero-tolerance policy on vandalism, stressing that such acts amount to economic sabotage and national security breaches.
The managing director added that the NRC will continue to work closely with security agencies to track down and prosecute all those involved in railway vandalism to serve as a deterrent to others.
In a related development, Dr. Opeifa confirmed that re-railment and full restoration of the affected portion of the Warri–Itakpe track were completed on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Following a comprehensive safety inspection and operational audit, normal train services on the corridor will resume on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
Opiefa assured passengers and stakeholders of NRC’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability, while intensifying surveillance, deploying advanced security technologies, and strengthening community engagement along all rail corridors.
The Corporation expressed appreciation to passengers and the general public for their patience and understanding during the brief service disruptioN.
