Three suspected members of an alleged railway vandalism syndicate have been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command after operatives intercepted a truck carrying railway materials believed to have been stolen from installations in Niger State.
The operation followed a tip-off from members of the public, who alerted the police that a truck transporting suspected vandalised railway components was moving through Oyo State. Acting on the intelligence, officers from the Command’s Monitoring Unit tracked the vehicle and intercepted it at Gambari in Orire Local Government Area.
Police identified the vehicle as a HOWO truck with registration number CAL 972 XA. A search of the truck reportedly uncovered a large quantity of railway tracks suspected to have been illegally removed from railway infrastructure.
The three suspects arrested were identified as Waheed Ayinde, 54, Muhammed Sani, 27, and Hassan Ibrahim, 22.
According to preliminary investigations, the railway materials had allegedly been stockpiled in Ogbomoso before plans were made to transport them to Lagos for sale. Authorities estimated the recovered materials to be worth about ₦200 million.
Police have launched a manhunt for other suspected members of the syndicate believed to have escaped arrest.
The successful operation attracted the attention of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), whose Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, visited the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Ayodeji Abimbola, in Ibadan to commend the officers involved.
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Accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, Nigeria Railway Police Command, CP Lasisi Titilola, Opeifa inspected the recovered materials and the intercepted truck before holding discussions with senior police officers.
He described the operation as evidence of the importance of intelligence-led policing and collaboration between the NRC and security agencies in safeguarding the nation’s railway infrastructure. He also urged communities living along railway corridors to continue providing timely information to security agencies.
Following the visit, the suspects were formally transferred to the Nigeria Railway Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
Commissioner Abimbola called for stiffer penalties against individuals involved in vandalising critical national infrastructure, saying tougher sanctions would help deter similar crimes and protect public assets.
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