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The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Kayode Opeifa, has attributed Sunday’s Warri–Itakpe train derailment to vandalism along the rail tracks.
Opeifa made this disclosure on Monday while responding to questions in an interview on ‘The Morning Brief’, a programme on Channels Television.
He explained that the accident occurred despite recent maintenance work and security measures along the corridor.
The NRC boss also disclosed that the section of the line had been shut down two months earlier to address safety and security concerns, during which extensive repairs were carried out.
“Two months ago, the line was put on hold because there was a need for safety and security. We reopened after fixing almost every kilometre of the track, replacing clips, landrolls, and bolts in several areas.
“However, we also discovered that on this track, there are regular vandalisations not unique to this side but to many other sides in the bushes, and our responsibility is to secure them.”
His comments followed the Warri-Itakpe train derailment in the Agbor area of Delta State, four days after the resumption of train service was announced.
He disclosed that the derailment was caused by the removal of four fish plates and flat iron pieces used to join rail tracks.
“At the site that particular night, we discovered that there were four fish plates that were removed and possibly the cause of the incident,” he stated.
According to him, the train had safely passed the same route earlier in the day from Onyewu to Itakpe via Agbor, indicating that the removed components were likely tampered with after that movement.
“At the back of every train in this neighbourhood is a guard train that watches over what is going on behind. We still have men working daily on these tracks,” he added.
