NRC blames possible wheel defect for train derailment

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has released preliminary findings into a train derailment incident that occurred on June 8, 2026 near Warri-Itakpe. The accident resulted in the death of four individuals and injuries to 64 others aboard the train. The NRC's internal inquiry identified a possible defect in the bogie or wheel of the train, which may have caused abnormal wheel-rail interaction, excessive impact loading, and loss of running stability.

However, the corporation stated that this hypothesis remains unconfirmed until the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) completes its independent investigation. The NRC added that brake application was also considered a potential contributing factor, but this too has not been definitively established. The train, carrying 482 passengers and crew members, included five coaches, a locomotive, and a power car that derailed.

Of the three coaches and the power car that overturned, two coaches and the power car remained upright. Despite the severity of the derailment, all passengers were evacuated within two hours following a coordinated emergency response from various government agencies and local authorities. The NRC emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing and the definitive cause of the accident will be determined after a comprehensive analysis.

The corporation also clarified that the earlier report of five fatalities was incorrect, and four people had actually died. Furthermore, the NRC found no evidence of track vandalism, distinguishing this incident from two previous derailments on the same route in November 2025, which were attributed to vandalism.