Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 12 persons for alleged involvement in the vandalism of railway infrastructure and other critical national assets in Kaduna State.
The arrests followed the circulation of a viral video showing extensive damage to newly installed Kaduna-Kano railway tracks and old rail facilities across parts of Northern Nigeria.
Addressing journalists during a briefing in Kaduna, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) Babawale Zaid Afolabi, represented by the corps public relations officer, SC Terzungwe Orndiir, said the operation was carried out on the directive of the commandant-general, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi.
According to him, the NSCDC boss directed the Corps’ Special Intelligence Squad (SIS), in collaboration with the Kaduna State Command, to track down and arrest those linked to the alleged sabotage.
Afolabi disclosed that weeks of intelligence gathering and covert operations led operatives to a syndicate allegedly operating from the premises of Inner Galaxy Steel Company’s Kaduna branch, located at Birnin Yero in Igabi Local Government Area.
He alleged that the suspects used the facility as a collection point for stolen railway components, railway slippers, NNPC pipelines and Kaduna State Water Board installations supplied by vandals.
According to the corps, the recovered materials were processed into scraps at the Kaduna facility before being transported to Aba, Abia State, where they were allegedly smelted and converted into nails and iron rods.
The NSCDC described the syndicate’s activities as a major act of economic sabotage that had caused significant losses to the Federal Government.
Those arrested include Usman Hassan, 27, identified as company manager; Bilyaminu Usman, 30, weighbridge operator; Choji John Pam, 40, weighbridge officer; Jamilu Isah Jaafar, 37, scrap collector; Chukwuemeka Udonwoke, 38, supervisor; Chikwodilli Ezema, 29, company manager; and Isaac Etim, 36, scrap leader.
The corps said all 12 suspects are currently in custody and undergoing investigation over alleged criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of vandalised property and receiving stolen items.
Recovered exhibits include large quantities of vandalised railway tracks and slippers, suspected NNPC and Water Board pipes, and specialised equipment allegedly used to compress and conceal the stolen materials.
In a related development, operatives of the CG’s SIS and the Kaduna State Command also arrested five suspects over the alleged vandalism of railway infrastructure along the Kaduna-Abuja corridor in Gwagwada community, Chikun local government area.
Items recovered from the suspects included railway tracks, railway slippers, and gas cylinders allegedly used to cut and damage the rail infrastructure.
