600 Passengers Stranded at Delta Train Station Following Driver’s Kidnap

About 600 passengers traveling on the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Ujevwu-Itakpe train service were left stranded for hours at the Agbor station in Delta State after a driver refused to continue the journey, citing the alleged kidnapping of his colleague.

The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, leaving passengers, including children and the elderly, in a dire situation. According to one of the passengers, Akpoteghor Iseakpobeje, the train had departed from Itakpe at 3:30 p.m., but the journey was abruptly halted at Agbor. The driver announced that he could not proceed as the colleague scheduled to take over had been abducted the previous day.

Efforts to obtain an explanation from the train management were reportedly unsuccessful, and security personnel on board the train also disappeared, leaving the passengers vulnerable.

A video from the scene revealed passengers sitting in the dimly lit train with curtains drawn and doors open for ventilation. Some male passengers loitered outside in the darkness, while women tried to comfort their children inside the train.

The journey, which should have ended much earlier, only concluded at 11:30 p.m., more than two hours behind schedule.

In response to the incident, calls have been made for the Federal Government to address what has been described as negligence by the NRC management overseeing the Itakpe-Ujevwu route. Critics have also raised concerns about security lapses, alleging that armed personnel tasked with safeguarding passengers abandoned their posts.

Iseakpobeje described the ordeal as dangerous, noting that the passengers were left stranded in a remote area, exposed to potential threats such as kidnappers. He further alleged that some security officials had been engaging in illegal ticket sales prior to vanishing when their presence was most needed.

“This is a serious issue that requires urgent attention. The NRC management must be overhauled to prevent a recurrence,” Iseakpobeje warned.