Some passengers plying the Warri-Itakpe route sustained various degrees of injuries following a train derailment on Thursday, July 4.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Delta State Police Command while confirming the incident said no casualties were recorded.
Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, the command’s spokesperson said, “It is true, no death, no casualty was recorded in the incident.”
However, a passenger onboard said the train was travelling from Itakpe in Kogi to Ujevwu in Delta when one of the coaches derailed from the rail track very close to the Abraka station.
The passenger who pleaded anonymity said the incident occurred about 20 minutes away from Abraka train station at 7.15 pm.
He said, “I could not proceed with my journey. Some passengers jumped through the doors while the train was slowing down movement, dragging the remaining coaches along with the derailed one.
“Some passengers sustained minor injuries, resulting from the stampede that ensued,” the passenger noted.
Some passengers plying the Warri-Itakpe route sustained various degrees of injuries following a train derailment on Thursday, July 4.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Delta State Police Command while confirming the incident said no casualties were recorded.
Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, the command’s spokesperson said, “It is true, no death, no casualty was recorded in the incident.”
However, a passenger onboard said the train was travelling from Itakpe in Kogi to Ujevwu in Delta when one of the coaches derailed from the rail track very close to the Abraka station.
The passenger who pleaded anonymity said the incident occurred about 20 minutes away from Abraka train station at 7.15 pm.
He said, “I could not proceed with my journey. Some passengers jumped through the doors while the train was slowing down movement, dragging the remaining coaches along with the derailed one.
“Some passengers sustained minor injuries, resulting from the stampede that ensued,” the passenger noted.
Nigerian Railway Corporation suspends Warri-Itakpe train services
Reacting to the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced the suspension of train services along the Warri-Itakpe route.
In a notice sent to customers and seen by Daily Patriot, the corporation said the train service along the said route was suspended due to the poor condition of the track from Ujevwu in Delta State to Itakpe in Kogi State.
The NRC further stated that the suspension – effective from Friday, July 5 – was due to an obstruction on the track and services will resume on Monday, July 8.
“This is to officially notify our esteemed passengers that the Warri-Itakpe Train will not run today, Friday, 5th July 2024, due to the obstruction we have on our track.
“We shall resume our normal train services on Monday 8th July 2024. Passengers who already booked their tickets online will be refunded,” the notice said.
