FG Confirms Four Deaths In Agbor Train Accident
The Federal Government has confirmed the death of four persons and serious injuries to 24 others in the train accident along the Warri–Itakpe Train Service corridor near Agbor, Delta State.
The confirmation came in a statement issued by the Nigerian Railway Corporation on Tuesday through the Federal Ministry of Transportation, signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Funsho Adebiyi. Preliminary findings, the statement said, showed that four coaches capsized while another derailed.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) regrets to confirm that a serious train accident occurred yesterday along the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor near Agbor, Delta State,” the statement read. It added that the incident resulted in “the unfortunate loss of four lives, comprising two adult females, one adult male, and one infant passenger.”
The toll rose from the figure first released on Monday, when the NRC, in a statement signed by its Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, confirmed three fatalities and said all passengers on board had been accounted for.
According to the ministry, 442 passengers were booked on the train, while 40 crew members, security personnel, and third-party service providers were also on board, “bringing the total number of persons on the train to 482.”
The ministry said rescue and evacuation efforts began immediately after the accident. “Rescue and evacuation operations were immediately activated with the support of the Delta State Government, NEMA, FRSC, the Police, Civil Defence, local authorities, security agencies, and other emergency responders, and were completed by 6:30 p.m.,” the statement said, adding that injured passengers were taken to medical facilities in Agbor.
It listed the Senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone, and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Patrick Ukah, among notable passengers on board.
On the injured, the statement noted, “As of the time of this release, 24 serious injuries have been recorded, while several other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical attention.” One NRC staff member suffered “a traumatic limb injury” and was reported to be in stable condition.
Local officials gave an account of where the wounded were treated. The Chairman of Ika North-East Local Government Council, Monday Odigwe, said 13 victims were admitted at Central Hospital, Agbor, 12 were being treated at General Hospital, Owa-Oyibu, and another 10 at General Hospital, Owa-Alero.
The ministry said the full onboard manifest had been retrieved and would be made available to relevant authorities, while efforts continued to identify all the injured and deceased. It added that “a full investigation into the cause of the accident has commenced.”
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, described the incident as tragic and heartbreaking. The Warri–Itakpe line, one of Nigeria’s standard-gauge routes linking parts of Delta, Edo and Kogi States, has remained heavily patronised by commuters travelling across the South-South and North-Central regions.