NRC blames possible wheel defect for train derailment

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has released preliminary findings into a train derailment on the Warri-Itakpe route that resulted in four fatalities and 64 injuries. The internal inquiry points to a potential sudden bogie or wheel defect as the likely cause, which may have led to abnormal wheel-rail interaction and instability.

This internal investigation, made available to pressmen on Monday, also identified the manner of brake application as a possible factor contributing to the severity of the derailment. However, the NRC stressed that these are working hypotheses and not definitive causes. The definitive cause of the accident will be determined by a comprehensive analysis in the final report from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), whose independent investigation is still underway.

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The definitive cause or causes of the accident will be determined through comprehensive analysis and will be set out in the final report.

The derailment occurred on June 8, 2026, after the train departed Itakpe with 482 people on board. Five coaches, a locomotive, and a power car derailed, with three coaches and the power car overturning. The NRC reported that all passengers were evacuated within two hours through a coordinated emergency response involving multiple government agencies and medical teams.

Four individuals, three adults and one child, died in the incident. Sixty-four others sustained injuries, ranging from minor bruises to blunt trauma and maxillofacial injuries. While most injured passengers were discharged within 72 hours, three individuals, including an NRC staff member requiring surgery, remain under specialist care. The NRC corrected earlier reports of five deaths, confirming the toll at four after verification with the Delta State Medical Team.

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The NRC also corrected an earlier report that five people had died, saying verification with the Delta State Medical Team, which handled the deceased, confirmed the toll at four.