The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) successfully prevented a potential train disaster along the Warri-Itakpe railway corridor by swiftly mobilizing personnel to repair 250 kilometers of tracks and restore bolts and clips that had been removed by vandals.
Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director of the Corporation, announced that the prompt notification from the Agbarho vigilante community in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, prompted immediate action to repair the damaged tracks. This intervention was crucial to ensure the safe operation of the Warri-Itakpe passenger train on Monday morning.
Dr. Opeifa noted that the repair work conducted at the Agbarho-Okpara section resulted in a 40-minute delay for the WITS 01 service scheduled for May 12, 2025, before its departure.
He elaborated, “In response to a report from the community vigilante group regarding track vandalism at Agbarho Community, Ughelli North LGA, our railway track and safety officers were dispatched early this morning to assess the situation and ensure the safety of train passage.”
Upon arrival at the scene, the team discovered that the section from kilometer 250, Agbarho-Okpara, had been vandalized, with hold-down bolts and clips stolen.
“The railway crew promptly replaced all the vandalized components, and the track has been confirmed safe for train passage. Consequently, the WITS 01 service experienced a 40-minute delay in its departure due to this unfortunate incident,” he added.
In a separate incident within the Eastern District of the Corporation, a report of vandalism at bridge No. 24, located at KM284 (Oghaho section), Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State, was received. A team of Railway Policemen and engineering personnel was dispatched from Enugu for assessment and security monitoring.
Upon reaching the site, NRC officials found that the heavy frames of the entire span of Bridge 24 had been cut into pieces by criminals using oxygen and acetylene equipment.
Though the vandals had escaped, the long-span bridge beams were left on the ground, and efforts are underway to recover them.
Dr. Opeifa commended the security agencies for their ongoing efforts to combat this economic sabotage and urged them to intensify their work. He expressed his administration’s commitment to supporting their endeavors in securing railway assets nationwide.
He also extended his gratitude to the Agbarho Community Vigilante Group for their vigilance over NRC tracks, encouraging other communities to follow their example and take ownership of railway facilities in their areas, recognizing them as national assets.
