NSCDC Arrests 13 Suspects, Impounds Trucks With N800m Rail Tracks

Operatives of the commandant-general’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGs SIS) Unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have recorded another stride with the arrest of 13 suspected railway vandals conveying N800 million worth of long rails and sleepers in five trucks.

The NSCDC paraded the suspects yesterday along with five trucks conveying the seized vandalised rails and sleepers at its national headquarters, in Abuja.

Parading the suspects, the corps director of public relations, Babawale Afolabi, explained that the suspects were arrested by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGs SIS).

According to Afolabi, the arrests took place around the Manchock area of Kaura local government area, the Zonkwa area in Zango Kataf local government area, and the Kafanchan area in Jama’a local government area of Kaduna State.

He said the 13 suspects and five trucks impounded have been taken into custody for profiling as well as for further investigation and prosecution.

He added that so far, the 13 suspects are still being interrogated and cross-examined after which other accomplices will be arrested and charged to court.

The director of public relations further revealed that upon their arrest, the CGs SIS operatives were offered N30 million as bribe which they declined.

Reacting to the parade, the NSCDC Commandant -general (CG), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, who was impressed about their latest feat decried the continuous activities of vandals across the country.

He frowned at the yet-to-be-identified iron and steel companies who patronise vandals by buying these stolen rods, process, and melt the vandalised rail track iron and sleepers.

He said, “Efforts are in top gear to smash and unmask these syndicates and make them face the wrath of the law no matter how highly or lowly placed. That, I assure, will take place very soon.”