By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has recorded a major breakthrough against economic sabotage following the interception of suspected railway vandals and the recovery of a large quantity of stolen railway sleepers along the Bauchi-Kano Road.
According to an official signed statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Assistant Commandant of Corps Afolabi Babawale, the operation was carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad following credible intelligence on the illegal movement of vandalised railway materials from Tafawa-Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The statement disclosed that operatives intercepted a Peugeot Boxer vehicle with registration number KMC-366-TE loaded with suspected vandalised railway sleepers allegedly being transported to an undisclosed destination in Kano State.
Two suspects were arrested during the operation. They include the driver of the vehicle, 65-year-old Alzuma Yakubu, and 32-year-old Ismail Muhammad, who reportedly claimed ownership of the recovered materials.
The NSCDC said both the suspects and the exhibits have been taken into custody as investigations continue.
The statement further revealed that the operation followed a directive issued by the Commandant General of the Corps, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, who ordered the relocation of the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad to Bauchi State to tackle the growing menace of railway infrastructure vandalism.
The deployment reportedly came after concerns were raised by the Bauchi State Government over activities of criminal elements allegedly disguising as government-approved contractors to cart away railway materials along the Bauchi-Gombe corridor.
The Corps stated that the Special Intelligence Squad, under the tactical leadership of Commandant Apollos Dandaura, was specifically mandated to halt the systematic destruction and illegal transportation of railway infrastructure in the area.
The commander of the squad confirmed that the suspects are currently providing useful information to investigators aimed at dismantling the wider criminal syndicate involved in the illegal trade.
The NSCDC added that efforts are ongoing to uncover secret warehouses allegedly used for storing stolen railway materials before they are moved across state lines.
Reaffirming its commitment to the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, the Corps warned vandals and illegal scrap dealers to desist from criminal activities, stressing that the Bauchi-Gombe axis would no longer serve as a safe haven for economic saboteurs.
