The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has released preliminary findings into the Warri-Itakpe train derailment of 8 June 2026, which claimed four lives and injured 64 people, while an independent investigation by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) remains ongoing.
In a report made available to journalists on Monday, the NRC said its internal inquiry identified a possible sudden bogie or wheel defect that may have developed while the train was travelling, potentially resulting in abnormal wheel-rail interaction, excessive impact loading and loss of running stability.
The corporation, however, stressed that the finding remained a working hypothesis pending the completion of the NSIB investigation.
“The definitive cause or causes of the accident will be determined through comprehensive analysis and will be set out in the final report,” the NRC said.
The internal inquiry also identified the possible manner in which the brakes were applied as a factor that may have contributed to the severity of the derailment. The corporation said this had not been established as a definitive cause.
The accident occurred after the train departed Itakpe at noon with 482 people on board, comprising 442 passengers and 40 operational personnel.
Five coaches, a locomotive and a power car derailed during the incident. Three coaches and the power car overturned, while the other derailed rolling stock remained upright.
Despite the scale of the accident, the NRC said all passengers were evacuated within two hours through a coordinated emergency response involving the Delta State Government, police, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Emergency Management Agency, local authorities and medical teams.
Four people, three adults and a child, died in the incident, while 64 others sustained injuries ranging from bruises and deep lacerations to blunt trauma, musculoskeletal strain, lumbar and maxillofacial injuries.
The NRC said 28 passengers were treated and discharged at the Railway Hospital in Owa-Oyibu, while another 36 were taken to general hospitals in Owa-Oyibu, Owa-Alero and the Central Hospital, Agbor.
Most of those admitted were discharged within 72 hours, although three people remained under specialist medical care. The corporation said two injured passengers subsequently underwent surgery, including an NRC employee who required an operation.
The NRC also corrected an earlier report that five people had died, saying verification with the Delta State Medical Team responsible for handling the deceased confirmed that the death toll was four.
The corporation said its inquiry found no evidence of track vandalism and established that the track points were intact.
The finding distinguishes the June derailment from two previous accidents involving the same Warri-Itakpe service on 1 and 8 November 2025, which the NRC said were attributed to track vandalism.
The corporation said it had fully cooperated with the NSIB, which commenced an independent investigation in line with its statutory mandate.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation is fully cooperating with the NSIB investigation and will be guided by its findings and recommendations,” it said.
The NRC emphasised that its preliminary findings should not be regarded as a final determination of the cause of the accident, with the definitive findings expected to be contained in the NSIB’s final investigation report.
