The dust is finally settling on the June 8 train incident on the Warri–Itakpe corridor, as all passengers who sustained injuries have now been treated, discharged, and reunited with their lives, closing a painful chapter that briefly threw travel plans off track.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation confirmed that every piece of equipment caught in the web of the accident has also been fully recovered, signalling a steady return to normalcy after what many described as a near-disaster on rails.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos, noting that the corporation has been working round the clock to steady the situation and mop up the aftermath.
“One NRC staff member who sustained serious injuries remains under specialist medical care,” Opeifa, however, said.
Recall that the incident occurred at about 4:17 p.m. near the Goodluck Jonathan Railway Station in Agbor, Delta State, where four coaches of the train went off the rails and capsized, turning an ordinary journey into a moment of chaos.
The train had set off from Itakpe Station at noon, heading for Ujevwu in Warri along the Warri–Itakpe rail line—a route that suddenly turned from smooth sailing to rough waters.
On board were 442 passengers and 40 operational staff, including crew members, security operatives, medical personnel, cleaners, caterers, and other support workers, all caught in what can only be described as an unexpected twist of fate.
Five lives were lost in the incident, while the injured were swiftly ferried to hospitals in Agbor and nearby communities, where medical teams battled to keep hope alive and steady the broken pieces.
According to Opeifa, every soul on board has now been accounted for, bringing clarity to a situation that initially raised anxiety and uncertainty.
He extended condolences to bereaved families, assuring them that the corporation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them in their moment of grief.
He also tipped his hat to the medical teams at General Hospital Owa Oyibu, Owa Alero Hospital, and Central Hospital, Agbor, praising what he described as swift hands and steady hearts in the face of emergency.
“Their invaluable support contributed significantly to the successful management of the emergency and recovery of the affected persons,” he said.
A medical and victim support committee has since been set up by the corporation to ensure no affected family is left in the dark or left to walk the road alone.
“The committee has so far visited five injured passengers and the family of one deceased passenger in Agbor, Asaba, and Ugbolu, Delta State, and will proceed to Warri to condole with the families of two other deceased passengers, as well as additional injured passengers,” he said.
Opeifa added that while rescue efforts and recovery operations have been wrapped up, engineers have already rolled up their sleeves, with the Civil Engineering and New Lines teams commencing restoration work on the damaged track.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation, he stressed, is determined not to sweep lessons under the carpet, but to tighten safety screws, heed recommendations from investigations, and ensure that the rail system remains not just functional, but far safer and more reliable going forward.
