Residents of Agbarho, a community in Delta State’s Ughelli North Local Government Area, reported a serious case of infrastructure sabotage early Monday as unknown individuals tampered with railway components along the Warri-Itakpe corridor.
According to eyewitness accounts and video evidence circulating on social media, critical metal fittings that secure the rail lines known as clips were forcibly removed, raising immediate concerns about rail safety. Locals warned that such interference, if unnoticed, could potentially result in derailments or worse.
“We’re lucky this was discovered early,” said one resident. “This could’ve led to a disaster.”
Following the discovery, community members appealed for faster intervention from federal authorities, urging for both immediate repair works and stronger protective measures along the route. They also called on security operatives, particularly the Nigeria Police and Civil Defence Corps, to intensify surveillance around national infrastructure.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) later confirmed the incident via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle. In a public update, the NRC stated that engineers had already addressed the issue by replacing the missing parts. Nevertheless, the disruption led to a 40-minute delay in the departure of the WITS 01 train on May 12, 2025.
“Track and safety officers responded quickly. The area has been inspected and deemed secure for travel,” the agency noted.
This incident adds to growing concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure across Nigeria and the rising need for coordinated protection efforts.
