Wheel defect, brake application may have caused Warri-Itakpe train derailment: NRC

A sudden wheel or bogie defect, potentially exacerbated by the way brakes were applied, may have caused the Warri-Itakpe Train Service to derail, according to a preliminary report by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

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Based on the internal investigation carried out by the NRC inquiry team, preliminary observations indicate the possible sudden development of a bogie/wheel defect while en route. This observation is being investigated further as a potential primary factor in the derailment.

The incident occurred on June 8 near the Goodluck Jonathan Railway Station in Owa-Oyibu, Agbor, Delta State. The train, carrying 482 people from Itakpe, derailed while approaching the station. Five coaches, one locomotive, and a power car were affected, with three coaches and the power car overturning.

The derailment tragically resulted in the deaths of four individuals, three adults and one child, and left 64 others injured. The NRC's investigation involved site inspections, evidence collection, and technical examinations of the train and track infrastructure.

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A wheel defect of this nature may have generated abnormal wheel-rail interaction, excessive impact loading, and loss of running stability.

Unlike two previous incidents in November 2025 attributed to track vandalism, the NRC found no evidence of sabotage at the site this time. The railway points were intact. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched its own independent investigation, and the NRC is fully cooperating.

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It is important to note that site examination by the inquiry team observed that the points were intact and that no evidence of track vandalism was found.