Railway Corporation Raises Alarm Over Escalating Vandalism

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has raised fresh concerns over rising cases of vandalism targeting its infrastructure, following two recent attacks on rail lines in Delta and Enugu states.

Dr. Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the NRC, described the incidents as clear acts of sabotage aimed at crippling the country’s rail system. His comments were conveyed in a statement released Tuesday by the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the NRC Enugu District, Dr. Onyedikachi Onovo.

The first incident occurred along the Warri-Itakpe rail corridor, where vandals removed key components—such as hold-down bolts and clips—from the tracks near Agbarho community in Delta State’s Ughelli North LGA. A tip-off from local vigilantes allowed NRC officials to intervene swiftly, preventing service disruption. However, the incident still caused a 40-minute delay for train WITS 01.

The second act of sabotage targeted Bridge No. 24 at Km 284 in the Oghaho section of Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State. The vandals reportedly used industrial gas equipment to cut two spans of the bridge into pieces before fleeing the scene. Railway engineers and police officers dispatched from Enugu arrived too late to apprehend the culprits, but recovery operations are now underway.

NRC officials said the remote nature of the Enugu site and prevailing insecurity in the region contributed to the challenge of protecting the infrastructure.

Dr. Opeifa commended the Agbarho Community Vigilante Group for their swift response and urged other communities to actively safeguard rail infrastructure within their jurisdictions.

“Our railway lines are not just government property—they are national assets. Communities must partner with us to protect them,” he said.

The NRC said it is continuing investigations into both incidents and has called for enhanced security across rail routes identified as vulnerable.