Two persons have been arrested for the vandalism of some of the fasteners and chips that caused the derailment of the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WTTS) near Agbor, in Delta State.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), in a statement on Tuesday, revealed that 27 years old Mudansuru Mutari and 39-year-old Blorie Kokori were the arrested suspects.
According to the corporation , the train service on the WITS, which was suspended on Sunday November 2, resumed Wednesday November 5.
Kayode Opeifa, managing director and chief executive officer (MD/CEO) of NRC, in the statement, said Mutari and Kokor were apprehended around Kilometer 208 before Abraka, Delta State, on Tuesday, November 4, by operatives of the NRC Police Command, in collaboration with local security agents.
The statement, added that Preliminary investigations and their confessional statements revealed their direct involvement in tampering with vital components of the rail track.
Opeifa, commended the Railway Police Command and community security networks for their swift and coordinated response.
He stated that the suspects will face the full wrath of the government for sabotaging national infrastructure and endangering public safety.
Opeifa who reiterated the Corporation’s zero-tolerance policy on vandalism, described the act as economic sabotage and a serious threat to national security.
He emphasized NRC’s continued collaboration with security agencies to ensure that all individuals involved in such acts are apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.
Opeifa had confirmed that the re-railment and full restoration of the affected portion of the Warri-Itakpe track were completed on Sunday, November 2 and reassured passengers and stakeholders, saying the corporation remained committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability while also intensifying surveillance, deploying advanced security technologies, and strengthening community engagement along all railway corridors.
The Corporation appreciated the patience and understanding of passengers and the general public during the brief suspension period.
Giving update as at Wednesday evening, concerning the train service, Sani Ganiyu, the NRC Coordinator for WITS, told BusinessDay that The train from Warri to Itakpe was smooth. Train arrived as scheduled this evening. The return is at Agbor now, going back to Warri, he said.
