Police Arrest Army Personnel, 13 Others For Vandalising Rail Tracks

A sergeant of the Nigerian Army, Sirajo Suleiman, has been arrested alongside 13 other suspects in connection with the vandalisation of railways in different parts of the country.

Suleiman works with the Nigerian Army Central Ammunition Department.

Upon their arrest by the Railway Police Command, three trucks loaded with railway slippers, steel and clips were recovered from the suspects.

The suspects were arrested on April 27, 2022, by the Kafanchan divisional headquarters of the command, alongside six other suspects.

They were alleged to have been loading multiple rail plates of steel into two trucks in a bush near Camuru Station, Katchia Local Government Area of the state when the policemen swooped on them.

Identities of other suspected vandals are Idris Bawa, Idris Musa, Shamsu Abdulahi, Anthony Moses and Yunana Gaius.

Three weeks earlier, the Kafanchan Railway Police Division of the command, reportedly intercepted a cement truck fully loaded with railway slippers along Bankin-Kaninkon-Kogi road.

On sighting the police, the suspected vandals fled the scene abandoning the truck.

During the investigation, one Ahmed Tanko, who resides in Dangoma Village Jam’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State was arrested and reportedly confessed to the crime.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Railway Police Command headquarters, Yetunde Longe, said efforts were being intensified to apprehend his fleeing accomplices.

She added that other suspects were arrested by the Kano division of the Railway command, the Dugbe Railway Police Division, Ibadan and the Offa division of the Railway Command, Kwara State.