Senator Dafinone, ex-Delta SSG Ukah not on derailed train, NRC clarifies

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has clarified that Senator Ede Dafinone and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Patrick Ukah, were not among the passengers on board the Warri–Itakpe train that derailed near Agbor, Delta State, on Monday.

The clarification followed an earlier statement credited to the Federal Ministry of Transportation, which erroneously listed the Delta Central senator and the former SSG among the 482 occupants of the train involved in the accident.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the NRC said both men only arrived after the incident and played important roles in mobilizing emergency responders and coordinating rescue efforts.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation wishes to clarify that contrary to an earlier statement, Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, and former Secretary to the Delta State Government, Hon. Patrick Ukah, were not passengers on board the Warri–Itakpe Train Service involved in the accident near Agbor,” the corporation said.

According to the NRC, Dafinone and Ukah were among prominent stakeholders who arrived at the scene to assist first responders and other emergency personnel following the derailment.

“Both distinguished individuals greatly assisted in the mobilization of first responders and other emergency personnel who participated in the rescue operations following the incident,” the statement added.

The corporation expressed regret over the misinformation and apologized for any inconvenience or embarrassment the earlier report may have caused the two Delta leaders.

The clarification came as discrepancies also emerged over the casualty figures from the accident. While the Ministry of Transportation reported that four people died in the derailment, the NRC had earlier announced that three passengers lost their lives.

The ministry stated that the train was carrying 442 ticketed passengers and 40 crew members, security personnel, and service providers, bringing the total number of occupants to 482.

It added that 24 passengers sustained serious injuries, while several others suffered minor injuries and are currently receiving treatment in hospitals around Agbor.

Both the ministry and the NRC said investigations have commenced to determine the cause of the accident, which occurred barely weeks after train services on the corridor were suspended for 72 hours following a major technical disruption that stranded passengers and raised fresh concerns over safety on the route.

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