Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have arrested a dozen suspects over railway infrastructure vandalism in Kaduna State. The busts came after a video went viral showing destruction of freshly installed tracks on the Kaduna-Kano route.
Assistant Commandant Babawale Zaid Afolabi disclosed this during a press conference on Thursday. He represented the corps' national spokesman and spoke on behalf of Commandant General Prof.
Ahmed Abubakar Audi.
According to him, the CG ordered the Special Intelligence Squad and Kaduna Command to track down those behind the sabotage. Weeks of surveillance eventually led operatives to a criminal ring.
The suspects operated from Inner Galaxy Steel Company's facility in Birnin Yero, Igabi LGA. They allegedly used the premises to receive stolen railway materials from vandals across the region.
Rail tracks, sleepers, NNPC pipelines and Water Board equipment made up their haul. All of it was being compacted into scrap metal at the Kaduna location.
The compressed materials got shipped to Aba in Abia State. There, the syndicate melted and recycled them into nails and iron rods for resale.
The NSCDC called the operation a massive scheme of economic sabotage. It said the Federal Government had suffered enormous financial losses because of it.
Among those arrested are Usman Hassan, 27, a company manager. Bilyaminu Usman, 30, worked as a weighbridge operator at the facility.
Also held are Choji John Pam, 40, a weighbridge officer and Jamilu Isah Jaafar, 37, described as a scrap collector. Chukwuemeka Udonwoke, 38, served as supervisor there.
Chikwodilli Ezema, 29, is another company manager in the group. Isaac Etim, 36, worked as a scrap leader for the operation.
All 12 remain in custody undergoing interrogation. Investigators are probing them for conspiracy, unlawful possession of vandalised items and receiving stolen property.
Officers recovered massive quantities of railway tracks and sleepers during the raid. They also seized suspected NNPC and Water Board pipes plus compression machines.
In a separate operation, five more suspects got arrested for vandalising tracks along Kaduna-Abuja corridor. The arrests happened in Gwagwada community, Chikun LGA.
Investigators found railway tracks and sleepers at their location. Gas cylinders allegedly used for cutting the infrastructure were also recovered.
Prof. Audi commended his officers for the successful operations.
He vowed the corps would intensify its campaign against vandalism syndicates nationwide.
