Seven arrested as NSCDC uncovers rail vandalism network

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has uncovered a syndicate allegedly involved in vandalising and recycling critical national infrastructure, including railway facilities, NNPC pipelines and water board installations.

Speaking in Kaduna on Wednesday, the corps’ National Public Relations Officer, ACC Babawale Afolabi, said the operation was launched after a viral video exposed the destruction of rail tracks along the Kaduna-Kano corridor.

Afolabi, represented by Deputy Public Relations Officer SC Terzungwe Orndiir, said the Commandant General of the corps, Ahmed Audi, directed the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad and the Kaduna State Command to track down those responsible.

According to him, operatives uncovered what he described as a sophisticated local and international network allegedly using Inner Galaxy Steel Company in Birnin Yero, Igabi Local Government Area, as cover for illegal activities.

He alleged that vandalised rail materials were compressed into scrap at the Kaduna facility before being transported to Aba, Abia State, where they were recycled into iron rods and nails.

“This criminal cycle has caused the Federal Government monumental economic losses,” Afolabi said.

The NSCDC said seven suspects were arrested, including company officials, scrap dealers and weighbridge operators.

Recovered exhibits included railway tracks, sleepers, suspected NNPC and water board pipes, as well as machinery allegedly used to process and conceal stolen infrastructure.

Afolabi also disclosed that five additional suspects were arrested over alleged vandalism along the Kaduna-Abuja rail corridor in Gwagwada community, Chikun Local Government Area.

Quoting the Commandant General, he said: “Under this leadership, the NSCDC will not treat economic sabotage with kid gloves. We are going after the sponsors.

“This operation marks the beginning of a new phase in our crackdown on syndicates supporting vandalism under any disguise.”

Also speaking, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, commended the NSCDC for recovering what he described as large quantities of railway materials hidden beneath heaps of scrap.

Represented by NRC Chief Technical Officer, Paul Doche, Opeifa said: “We have gone round and identified some of our materials there. These are national assets.”

He added that officials were still working to determine the volume of recovered items because many remained buried under metal debris.