The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the recent train derailment. In a statement released on Tuesday, the NRC identified the suspects as 27-year-old Mudansuru Mutari and 39-year-old Blorie Kokori.
According to NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, the suspects are being questioned by the police in Delta State and are expected to be transferred to Abuja for further investigation into the alleged act of sabotage that led to the derailment.
Opeifa explained that the two men were arrested around Kilometer 208, near Abraka in Delta State, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, by operatives of the NRC Police Command working with local security agents.
“Preliminary investigations and their own confessions have revealed that they were directly involved in tampering with critical components of the rail track,” he said.
The derailment affected two of the seven coaches of the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) at Kilometer 212+8m, near Agbor.
NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, said preliminary findings suggest that the incident, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, was likely caused by suspected vandalism of the rail tracks.
As a safety precaution, Opeifa explained that train operations along the route were temporarily suspended on Sunday to allow for a thorough security and safety assessment of the tracks and other related infrastructure.
He praised the Railway Police Command and local security groups for their quick and coordinated response, reaffirming the NRC’s zero-tolerance stance on vandalism and describing such acts as economic sabotage.
Opeifa also confirmed that repairs and full restoration of the affected section of the Warri–Itakpe line were completed on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
He assured passengers that after inspection and operational reviews, normal train services on the route would resume on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
The NRC boss reiterated the Corporation’s commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety and reliability, adding that the agency is stepping up surveillance, adopting advanced security technologies, and strengthening ties with local communities along railway corridors. He also thanked passengers and the public for their patience and understanding during the brief service suspension.
Read also: NRC: Agbor Train Derailment Tied to Vandalism, Passengers Safe
