The Railway Police in Kwara, Kano and Gombe States have reported the arrest of suspected vandals of critical railway infrastructure.
The managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, said this in a statement on Monday in Lagos.
Opeifa listed the infrastructure as: fish plates, bolts, nuts and steel sleepers from designated railway lines.
“On June 11, a staff member of the Railway Station, Ilorin, Mr Adesina Fabumi, reported to the railway police command that unknown thieves had removed 56 pieces of fish plates, bolts and nuts between kilometres 413 and 414 near Idi-Ose Village, Ilorin.
The stolen materials, he said, are essential for securing railway tracks.
“Following an investigation led by Inspector Oniwara Babatunde and his team, police arrested Wasiu Musa of Ajia Village on June 12.
“The suspect confessed to the crime and implicated another accomplice, Abdullahi Salman, who is currently at large,” he said.
The NRC boss added that on June 18, another suspect, Usman Bashir, was apprehended and 33 pieces of fish plates, 33 pieces of bolts and nuts, 80 pieces of AB & K fasteners and 38 other nuts were recovered from him.
According to him, the suspect was currently assisting with an ongoing investigation that would lead to the arrest of his accomplices.
He went on: “Also in Gombe, the railway police intercepted a blue vehicle loaded with suspected stolen steel rail sleepers.
“Two individuals were arrested in connection with the Gombe operation and are currently assisting with ongoing investigations.”
Opeifa reiterated the corporation’s commitment to protecting railway fixed assets and warned that all acts of vandalism would be met with full legal force.
Also in Kano, the Railway Police Command arrested four suspects on June 15, following a report of rail line vandalisation at Zakirai town in the Gabasawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The NRC boss said all four were taken to court, pleaded guilty to the charges, and were accordingly convicted by the court.
“The convicts are Mukhter Muhammed (30), Abdullahi Musa (21), Sa’idu Yushe’u (26) and Salisu Shuaibu (24), and were arraigned on June 19,” Opeifa said.
