The Federal Ministry of Transportation has confirmed that four people, including an infant, lost their lives following a train derailment in Agbor, Delta State, while dozens of others sustained injuries.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funsho Adebiyi, disclosed that four coaches capsized and one coach derailed during the incident, resulting in multiple casualties.
According to the ministry, the deceased comprised two adult women, one adult man, and one infant passenger.
The ministry said a total of 442 passengers had booked the train, while 40 crew members, security personnel, and third-party service providers were also on board, bringing the total number of occupants to 482.
Rescue and evacuation operations were completed at approximately 6:30 p.m., with injured passengers transported to medical facilities in Agbor for treatment.
Officials reported that 24 individuals sustained serious injuries, while several others suffered varying degrees of wounds.
The ministry also confirmed that one staff member of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) suffered a traumatic limb injury and is currently receiving treatment in stable condition.
Prominent Nigerians Among Passengers
The statement noted that several prominent individuals were among the passengers on board, including Senator Ede Dafinone and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Patrick Ukah.
The Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
The ministry announced that a full investigation into the cause of the accident has commenced, while efforts continue to account for all passengers and provide support to affected families.
According to the statement, the complete onboard manifest has been retrieved and will be made available to relevant authorities upon request.
Officials are also working to formally identify all injured and deceased persons for documentation and support purposes.
Recent Rail Incidents Raise Safety Concerns
The latest derailment occurred months after another incident involving the Warri-Itakpe rail service in November 2025.
At the time, the Nigerian Railway Corporation attributed the derailment to vandalism of railway infrastructure and subsequently announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the incident.
In August 2025, a passenger train travelling between Abuja and Kaduna also derailed, causing panic among passengers and their families, although no mass casualties were reported.
The latest tragedy is expected to renew scrutiny of rail safety, infrastructure maintenance, and operational security across Nigeria’s growing railway network.
