The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the suspension of Warri-Itakpe train services until further notice, following an accident involving one of the trains on the route.
The train, which had left Warri early on Sunday, derailed inside a forest between Ajaokuta and Itakpe in Kogi State around 1:00 p.m.
Some of the stranded passengers immediately abandoned the train out of fear of being kidnapped by criminals lurking in the area.
The Coordinator of the Warri-Itakpe Train Service, Sanni Abdulganiyu, confirmed the suspension in a statement on Sunday night.
He stated that the cause of the derailment has not yet been determined and that all passengers were safely evacuated.
Abdulganiyu said in the statement, “Thankfully, there was no fatality and no casualty. We were immediately alerted and security personnel comprising the Army, Police, NSCDC, and the community vigilante were immediately drafted to the accident point with the assistance of the local government chairman.”
“All the 148 passengers and 30 crew members were evacuated to a safe place and arrangements were made to convey the passengers to their various destinations and they have been successfully conveyed.”
The NRC stated that the cause of the derailment is currently under investigation and that further details will be communicated to the public as soon as they become available.
The corporation also assured that repair and operation will resume as soon as possible.
