Railway vandal remanded in Lagos as NRC intensifies crackdown
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has recorded a breakthrough in its sustained clampdown on railway vandalism with the arrest and prosecution of a suspected track vandal in Lagos. The suspect,
- By Ntakobong Otongaran
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has recorded a breakthrough in its sustained clampdown on railway vandalism with the arrest and prosecution of a suspected track vandal in Lagos.
The suspect, Bashiru Hafeez, 32, was apprehended on Thursday, March 26, 2026, by security personnel from Multi Eye Security Services attached to Mobolaji Johnson Train Station in Ebute Metta during a routine patrol.
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He was reportedly caught with 15 pandrol clips, iron rail fasteners believed to have been unlawfully removed from the narrow gauge corridor at Alagomeji, within the Lagos rail network. The components are critical to track stability, and their removal poses significant safety risks, including possible derailment.
Following his arrest, the suspect was handed over to the Nigerian Railway Police Command for investigation and prosecution.
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He was subsequently arraigned before a Lagos court and remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending further hearing. The case was adjourned till April 24, 2026.
Managing Director of the NRC, Kayode Opeifa, reiterated the corporation’s zero tolerance for vandalism, describing such acts as economic sabotage capable of endangering lives and undermining critical infrastructure.
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He commended the security personnel for their vigilance and swift response, assuring that the corporation, in collaboration with security agencies, would intensify efforts to identify, arrest, and prosecute individuals and syndicates involved in the destruction and theft of railway assets.
Opeifa warned that anyone found culpable in vandalising railway infrastructure or dealing in stolen railway materials would face the full weight of the law.
The NRC also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around railway corridors, stressing that the railway remains a critical national asset that must be protected.
