The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has ordered an investigation into the alleged assault of a lecturer from the University of Ibadan (UI) at a railway station in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The lecturer, Dr. Mikail Abdussalam, was reportedly beaten by some railway staff during an incident that occurred at the Obafemi Awolowo Train Station.
According to reports, the incident took place on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, when the lecturer drove his sister to the station so she could board a train travelling to Lagos.
However, what was meant to be a routine visit to the station reportedly turned into a confrontation that ended in violence.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Kayode Opeifa, confirmed the development in a statement released on Monday in Lagos.
The statement, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the corporation was deeply concerned about the incident and had begun steps to determine exactly what happened.
Reports say Dr. Abdussalam arrived at the train station in Moniya to assist his sister with boarding a train bound for Lagos.
While details of what led to the confrontation are still unclear, witnesses said an argument broke out between the lecturer and some railway staff at the station.
The situation reportedly escalated quickly.
According to the reports, some staff members allegedly attacked the lecturer during the confrontation.
It was claimed that the lecturer was beaten and sustained injuries during the incident. He was also reportedly threatened during the altercation.
The alleged assault quickly drew attention after it was reported in the media and discussed widely on social media platforms.
Many Nigerians expressed concern about the safety of passengers and visitors at railway stations.
Reacting to the incident, the NRC management strongly condemned any form of misconduct by its staff.
Opeifa said the corporation does not tolerate harassment, intimidation, or violence against passengers or members of the public.
“The corporation views the incident with serious concern and wishes to state clearly that harassment, intimidation, or any form of misconduct towards passengers or members of the public is unacceptable,” he said.
He explained that such behaviour does not reflect the values and professional standards expected from employees of the railway corporation.
“This is not in line with the values and operational standards of the Nigerian Railway Corporation,” he added.
The NRC boss said the management had ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.
The aim of the investigation, according to him, is to establish the facts of the case and determine whether any staff members violated the organisation’s rules and professional conduct guidelines.
Opeifa also warned that any staff found responsible for wrongdoing would face disciplinary action.
According to him, the corporation will not hesitate to apply sanctions in line with its regulations and Nigerian laws.
He said employees who act against the corporation’s code of conduct could face penalties ranging from suspension to dismissal or other legal consequences depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Opeifa stressed that public institutions must maintain high standards of service and respect for citizens.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation sincerely regrets the unfortunate incident and extends its apologies to the lecturer for the distress caused,” he said.
The corporation also offered an apology to Dr. Abdussalam over the incident.
Opeifa said the management was sorry for the distress and inconvenience caused to the lecturer.
He assured the public that the NRC remains committed to ensuring that passengers and visitors are treated properly at all railway stations across the country.
“The corporation remains committed to ensuring that all passengers and visitors at its stations are treated with dignity, respect, and professionalism at all times,” he said.
The NRC management also promised to strengthen its customer service standards across railway stations.
Opeifa explained that the corporation would take steps to ensure that staff members follow the rules guiding their conduct when dealing with the public.
He said training and monitoring measures would be reinforced to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
“The NRC assures the public that necessary steps are being taken to reinforce adherence to customer service standards across all its facilities to prevent a recurrence of such incidents,” he said.
In recent years, train services in Nigeria have become increasingly popular among travellers.
Many Nigerians now rely on rail transport as a safer and often more affordable option compared to road travel.
Rail lines connecting major cities such as Lagos and Ibadan have recorded increased passenger numbers since the introduction of modern train services.
The Lagos–Ibadan railway corridor in particular has become one of the busiest routes in the country.
Stations like the Obafemi Awolowo Train Station in Moniya serve as key departure points for travellers heading to Lagos and other locations.
Because of the growing number of passengers using rail services, experts say maintaining safety and professionalism at train stations is very important.
The reported assault has raised questions about how passengers and visitors are treated at some public transport facilities.
Many Nigerians have called on authorities to ensure that railway staff are properly trained to handle disagreements without resorting to violence.
They say such measures will help prevent situations from escalating into physical confrontations.
For now, the focus remains on the investigation ordered by the NRC management.
Officials say the findings will determine what really happened at the station and what actions should be taken.
The outcome of the investigation is also expected to guide future measures aimed at improving staff behaviour and protecting passengers.
