Derailing again for the umpteenth time, the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) has been grounded indefinitely by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC)following another episode on Saturday in Kogi State that left passengers stranded for several hours before being rescued by security operatives.
Newsmata.com.ng reports the WITS, which resumed operations later October having been shut down for three months for maintenance, had since suffered series of derailments within weeks of coming back on track.
Faced with another embarrassing reoccurrence which raised questions about the integrity, safety and convenience of travelling by train, the management of the NRC was compelled to suspend services till further notice and return to the drawing board.
While the NRC management was yet to make a statement on the development, the Kogi State police command however confirmed the incident which it said occurred around 4:30 p.m. at Adogo community in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement in Lokoja, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kogi Command, William Ovye-Aya, a chief superintendent of police, (CSP) said upon receiving a distress call, the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Kankarofi, immediately deployed officers and men to the scene to provide security cover for the affected passengers.
Ovye-Aya said, “The CP personally visited the Adogo derailment site on Sunday for an on-the-spot assessment. He met with officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and the stranded passengers.
“He also directed the deployment of additional security personnel to safeguard the people and facilities”.
According to the PPRO, all passengers were safely evacuated to the Ajaokuta station and later assisted to continue to their respective destinations without any casualty.
Ovye-Aya quoted the Commissioner as reiterating the Command’s commitment to working closely with other security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.