In its effort to combat railway vandalism, the Railway Police Command has arrested 13 suspected railway vandals in the months of May and June.
The suspects are Abubakar Ayuba, 22, Musa Ibrahim, 17, Umar Bello, 18, Samaila Rabiu, 18 and Yahaya Abubakar, 18.
According to Railway police boss Yetunde Longe, operatives of the Railway Police Command, on May 12, upon credible tip-off by a group of Civilian Joint Task Force, arrested five suspected vandals in Abakwa axis of Kaduna State.
The suspects were intercepted while removing and vandalising rail irons of the Abakwa old rail line with a gas cylinder.
She added that the Minna Division of the Railway Police Command also arrested three persons with 220 Pandrol clips.
She said “Another three suspects were similarly arrested for vandalism of standard gauge rail Pandrol clips property of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC)/Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).
“The suspects, Benedict Matthew, 20, Ismalia Ibrahim, 18, and Abdullahi Iliyasu, 20, were arrested on June 17.
“Exhibits recovered from them include: ten sacks of vandalised standard gauge rail pandrol clip Irons, measuring scale, and hammer.”
“The suspects Abdulrazak abubakar, Khamisu Abba, Abdulganiyu Abubakar were arrested at kilometer 735, along Korota Village, Maikunkele Beji section.
“The Kafanchan Railway Police Division upon credible information also intercepted a truck loaded with vandalised railway iron rails tucked away in a bush at Unguwar Yawa Village, Zango Kataf Local Council of Kaduna State.
“The truck marked BCH-933 XA, belonging to a Cement Company was loaded with ninety-six pieces of standard gauge rail irons.
“One suspect has been arrested in connection to the incident while investigations have been heightened to apprehend other accomplices at large.”
“In Abeokuta, at Alagada village axis, two men, Idowu Abiodun and David Titus both 24 years old were apprehended by men of the Abeokuta division, while vandalising rail tracks upon an information by a member of the village. Railway pandrol clips were recovered from the suspects as exhibits. The suspects have however been charged to court.”
Longe stressed the importance of Citizen-Police Partnership and Community Policing in securing life and property.
She added that no stone would be left unturned in the war against Railway vandalism as perpetrators arrested would be made to face the wrath of the law to its full extent.