The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has cracked open an alleged syndicate accused of vandalising, stealing and recycling critical national infrastructure, including railway tracks, NNPC pipelines and water board facilities, in what officials described as a major blow against economic sabotage.
Speaking during a briefing in Kaduna on Wednesday, NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, ACC Babawale Afolabi, said the operation was triggered by a viral video exposing widespread destruction of newly installed Kaduna-Kano rail tracks and other railway facilities across northern Nigeria.
Represented by the Deputy Public Relations Officer, SC Terzungwe Orndiir, Afolabi said the Commandant General of the corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, immediately ordered the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad (SIS) and the Kaduna State Command to fish out those allegedly behind the act.
According to him, the operation, driven by intelligence gathering and coordinated by the Commander of the CG’s SIS, Commandant Apollos Dandaura, alongside the Kaduna State Command, eventually unraveled what he described as a deeply-rooted local and international network operating beneath the radar.
Afolabi said operatives stormed the suspects’ hideout on May 12 and dismantled what he termed a sophisticated criminal chain allegedly masked behind legitimate business operations.
He alleged that the syndicate used the premises of Inner Galaxy Steel Company located in Birnin Yero, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as a cover for their activities.
According to him, vandalised railway components were allegedly compressed into scrap materials at the company’s Kaduna facility before being transported to Aba in Abia State, where they were melted and transformed into nails and iron rods.
“This criminal cycle has caused the Federal Government monumental economic losses,” he said.
He further stated that the suspects allegedly worked hand in glove with vandals, purchasing stolen railway tracks, slippers, NNPC pipes and water board installations like merchants trading in forbidden wares.
The NSCDC spokesman disclosed that seven suspects were arrested in connection with the operation. They include Usman Hassan, company manager; Bilyaminu Usman, weighbridge operator; Choji Pam, weighbridge officer; Jamilu Jaafar, scrap collector; Chukwuemeka Udonwoke, supervisor; Chikwodilli Ezema, company manager; and Isaac Etim, scrap leader.
According to him, the suspects are currently being processed for alleged offences bordering on criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of vandalised items and receiving stolen property.
Recovered exhibits, he said, included large volumes of vandalised railway tracks and slippers, suspected NNPC and water board pipes, alongside specialised equipment allegedly used to compress and conceal stolen infrastructure.
In a related development, Afolabi said operatives of the CG’s SIS and the Kaduna State Command also arrested five suspects linked to the alleged vandalism of rail tracks along the Kaduna-Abuja corridor in Gwagwada community, Chikun Local Government Area.
Items reportedly recovered from the suspects included railway tracks, slippers and gas cylinders allegedly used to destroy the infrastructure.
The NSCDC spokesman quoted the Commandant General as praising the operatives for their bravery and professionalism, noting with concern that some registered companies were allegedly serving as wolves in sheep’s clothing by aiding economic sabotage.
“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,” he said.
Afolabi also appreciated members of the public for supplying intelligence through social media platforms and urged continued cooperation with security agencies.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, commended the NSCDC for recovering large quantities of railway materials allegedly vandalised and hidden in Kaduna State.
Represented by the Chief Technical Officer (Track), Zaria, Mr. Paul Doche, Opeifa said officials of the corporation were invited by the NSCDC to identify the recovered railway materials during the intelligence-led operation.
He said the items recovered included heaps of railway sleepers and tracks allegedly buried beneath piles of scrap metal.
“We have gone round and identified some of our materials there. These are national assets,” he said.
Doche described the operation as a successful intelligence-driven breakthrough but noted that determining the exact quantity of recovered materials would require extensive sorting because many of the components were buried under mountains of scrap.
“Before we can quantify, we have to remove all the debris and count the materials one after the other,” he said.
He reiterated that the Nigerian Railway Corporation maintains zero tolerance for vandalism and destruction of railway infrastructure, adding that the matter would be handed back to the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution in line with the law.
