The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 13 accused railway vandals in possession of 800 million naira worth of long rails and sleepers.
The suspects were apprehended by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, according to a statement signed by Corps spokesman Babawale Afolabi.
On Tuesday, the suspects were displayed with five trucks carrying substantial quantities of vandalised rails and sleepers at the NSCDC Headquarters in Abuja.
Afolabi said that the arrests took place around the Manchock area of Kaura LGA, the Zonkwa area in Zango Kataf LGA, and the Kaffanchan area in Jama’a LGA of Kaduna State.
The statement read in part “The 13 suspects and five trucks impounded have been taken into custody for profiling and further investigation and prosecution.
“The 13 suspects are still being interrogated and cross-examined after which other accomplices will be arrested and charged to court.”
Afolabi added that upon arrest, the CGs SIS operatives were offered 30 million naira as bribe which they declined.
“When they were apprehended, the Commander of the squad was offered the sum of 30 million naira which was rejected.”
The NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Audi, frowned at the yet-to-be-identified iron and steel companies who always buy, process, and melt the vandalized rail track iron and sleepers.
Audi noted “Efforts are in top gear to smash and unmask these syndicates and make them face the wrath of the law no matter how highly or lowly placed.”
