The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced on Saturday that it had recorded significant breakthroughs in the fight against railway infrastructure vandalism, with at least 11 arrests made in Katsina and Niger states in relation to recent incidents.
The NRC, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Callistus Unyimadu, said eight suspects were apprehended on Friday, July 11, 2025, for vandalising railway track components along the Sheme Gusau rail corridor in Katsina State.
Unyimadu stated that the suspects were caught in the act at Sheme village while attempting to cart away railway steel sleepers. Before their arrest, they had already loosened the bolts and nuts from 310 steel sleepers between kilometres 1087 and 1088.
Meanwhile, three individuals were initially arrested and handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Faskari Local Government Area (LGA) Police Division.
Subsequent investigations, according to Unyimadu, led to the arrest of five more suspects, bringing the total number in custody to eight.
Unyimadu stated that legal advice has been sought from the Ministry of Justice in Kaduna State, and the suspects are to be arraigned before the Federal High Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction over such offences.
“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,” the statement read.
Similarly, in Sarkin Pawa, Niger State, the NRC has reported substantial progress in the investigation of another vandalism case.
Unyimadu disclosed that on Monday, July 14, three suspects were initially apprehended by local vigilantes and handed over to the Police Division, but regrettably, one of the vigilantes was stabbed by the suspects during the arrest.
He stated that further investigations revealed that the suspects had stolen over 1,200 pandrol clips and sold them to a receiver in Suleja, but 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,” Unyimadu said.
“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.”
Unyimadu stated that the police team deployed to Sarkin Pawa Community also arrested an additional suspect, Yusuf Hussaini, who was lured from Suleja.
Hussaini is now in custody alongside the three initially arrested suspects in Minna. The 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.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation condemns these criminal acts in the strongest terms and reiterates its commitment to protecting the integrity of railway infrastructure across the nation. These acts of sabotage not only endanger lives but also disrupt national economic activities,” the statement read.
“The NRC management commends the swift action of the local communities, security operatives, and NRC personnel who contributed to these successful arrests.”
Unyimadu also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity along railway corridors, stating the management’s assurance that all culprits will be brought to justice.
(Guardian)
