The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has recorded significant breakthroughs in the fight against railway infrastructure vandalism, with multiple arrests in Katsina and Niger States.

The managing director of NRC, Kayode Opeifa, said this in a statement by Callistus Unyimadu, the corporation’s spokesperson, on Saturday.

Mr Opeifa said eight suspects were apprehended on July 11 for vandalising railway track components along the Sheme-Gusau rail corridor in Katsina State.

“The suspects were caught in the act at Sheme village while attempting to cart away railway steel sleepers.

“Prior to their arrest, they had already loosened bolts and nuts from 310 steel sleepers between Kilometres 1087 and 1088,” he said.

He added that three individuals were initially arrested and handed over to the divisional police officer at Faskari Local Government Area Police Division.

Mr Opeifa said the subsequent investigation led to the arrest of five more suspects, bringing the total number in custody to eight.

He said the suspects would be arraigned before the Kaduna Division of the Federal High Court.

“In the interim, they remain in custody pending the completion of legal formalities. The NRC is also exploring prosecution through the Civil Defence’s anti-vandalism legal unit,” he said.

Mr Opeifa added that, in Sarkin Pawa, Niger State, there had been substantial progress in the investigation of another vandalism case that occurred on July 14.

He noted that three suspects were initially apprehended by local vigilantes and handed over to the police division, of which, regrettably, one of the vigilantes was stabbed by the suspects during the arrest.

“Further investigations revealed that the suspects had stolen over 1,200 Pandrol clips and sold them to a receiver in Suleja, and so far, only 15 clips have been recovered.

“A police team subsequently raided Suleja and arrested three more suspects, including the alleged buyer of the stolen materials and another individual linked to the Sarkin Pawa vandalism.

“Investigators also uncovered that the Suleja-based receiver had transferred some of the stolen components to another suspect. Security agencies are currently working to locate and arrest all collaborators and to recover the remaining materials,” he said.

He stated that the police team deployed to Sarkin Pawa Community also arrested an additional suspect, Yusuf Hussaini, who was lured from Suleja and is now in custody alongside the three initially arrested suspects in Minna.

The NRC boss said four suspects were presented before the court on July 22, where the court granted the prosecution’s application to remand them for seven days to aid the recovery of the stolen materials.

He said the NRC condemned vandalism and urged the public to report suspicious activities along railway corridors.

(NAN)