Police foil railway vandalism syndicate, recover N400m assets, operatives reject N100m bribe
The police have foiled a railway vandalism syndicate, arrested two suspects and recovered materials valued at over N400 million, refusing a N100m bribery attempt from the robbers. The suspects, Chisom
The police have foiled a railway vandalism syndicate, arrested two suspects and recovered materials valued at over N400 million, refusing a N100m bribery attempt from the robbers.
The suspects, Chisom Goodnews, 32, and Ahmed Adamu, 22, were arrested about 6pm on April 9, in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, following credible intelligence by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS).
A statement yesterday by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Placid, said the operation led to the interception of a trailer conveying about 60 tonnes of vandalised railway tracks and sleepers.
The items, the police said, were hidden under sacks of groundnut shells and were being transported from Bauchi State to Ilorin, Kwara State.
Preliminary investigations showed that the truck driver was hired for N2.5 million to move the stolen materials, police said.
“Further findings also indicated the existence of an organised supply chain involving receivers of vandalised railway infrastructure.
During the investigation, the operatives rejected a N100 million bribe meant to compromise the case and secure the release of the suspects and the exhibits.
“The trailer used to transport the materials has been recovered, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate, including the intended receivers, and to recover more stolen items,” the statement added.
According to Placid, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended the operatives for their courage and integrity, noting that their actions reflected the core values of the force.
Police also reaffirmed their commitment to protecting national infrastructure and preventing further acts of vandalism across the country.
Railway track vandalism has remained a major concern for authorities in recent years, with security agencies warning that the destruction and theft of rail materials threaten public safety and disrupt transport services across key corridors.
The theft of rail tracks and other vital metals, assets have caused accidents and delays in rail operations in some corridors, as well as increased the cost of maintaining critical infrastructure.
Findings revealed that vandalised railway components are usually sold as scrap metal through illegal networks, making enforcement difficult. The activities are often carried out by organised groups that target remote sections of rail lines where monitoring is weak.
