Troops Arrest 12 Suspected Rail Track Vandals In Nasarawa

Troops from the 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, Nasarawa State, have successfully apprehended 12 individuals suspected of vandalizing rail tracks at an abandoned railway station within the state. The arrests took place in the Angwan Yara and Agyaragu communities of Keana Local Government Area.

Major Joseph Adekunle Afolasade, the acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 4 Special Forces Command, announced the arrest on Friday while handing over the suspects to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state. He explained that the troops had intercepted and detained five suspects involved in rail track vandalism during a routine patrol on June 15.

“The suspects were apprehended with a significant quantity of vandalized tracks, loaded onto two 12-tyre trucks. Subsequent investigations revealed the involvement of prominent individuals within Lafia and Jos, Plateau State, as members of the syndicate,” Major Afolasade disclosed.

Further investigation led the troops to conduct a raid operation at the residence of one of the syndicate leaders, resulting in the arrest of seven additional suspects. Each suspect was interviewed, providing written statements to determine their level of involvement.

The suspects admitted to their role in the crime but claimed they were deceived by the kingpins, who allegedly informed them that they had authorization from the federal government, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), and certain security agencies to carry out the vandalism and transport the tracks to Jos.

During the arrest, the suspects reportedly attempted to bribe the soldiers with a sum of five million naira to avoid apprehension. However, the Special Forces soldiers diligently refused the bribe and carried out their duties with utmost professionalism.

Major Afolasade also emphasized that a considerable amount of vandalized tracks still remain at the location of the suspects’ arrest, urging the relevant authorities to make necessary arrangements to secure them. He noted that two additional suspected rail vandals had been arrested earlier on June 5, 2023.

The suspects, along with the seized exhibits, have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Criminal Investigations Department in Lafia for further action. Major Afolasade affirmed the commitment of the command to rid Nasarawa State and its environs of criminal elements, spanning across the 13 local government areas.

Upon receiving the suspects, Efere Joseph, the deputy commandant of NSCDC in the state, expressed gratitude to the Army for their collaboration in combating insecurity. He assured that all the suspects would undergo thorough investigation before being charged to court, with the aim of setting an example and deterring others from engaging in similar criminal activities.