From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested five suspected rail vandals for allegedly vandalising railroad installations in Nasarara state.
The state NSCDC Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Surajo Muhammad disclosed this recently while briefing journalists at the Command’s headquarters in Lafia.
According to him, two of the suspects are staff of the Nigeria Railway Corporation who have been working with the Corporation for 21 and 6 years respectively.
“The suspected vandals were arrested along Barkin Abdullahi village railway truck, near Lafia while loading the vandalised rail line facilities in two vehicles.
“Others were arrested along B.A.D – Keffi Wambai axis at the early hours of Monday by men of the Anti-vandal unit of the Command on surveillance with 35 railway Slippers loaded in a Sharon mini bus with registration number KEF 306ZF.
“Two among the suspects, Agbo Edwin, age 44 and Joshua Haruna, 30 all from Awuma community are staff of Nigeria Railway Corporation attached to Awuma-Lafia.
“The suspects have been working with the Corporation for 21 and 6 years respectively as Gangas of Awuma-Lafia Section on grade level 06 in the Corporation while Muhammed Dahiru, age 25 from Sabon Pegi in Lafia has been the merchant receiving the vandalised materials,” Mr Muhammad said.
Items recovered, according to the command’s PRO include 15 railway Slippers, A, B and K bolts, nuts, clips, spanners and a Sharon mini bus with registration number LAF-153 ZX which was used in conveying the materials from the scene of the vandalisation.
The PRO said the suspects have since confessed to the crime and would be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.
He decried the rise in cases of vandalisation of public property, especially the rail lines in the state, saying it was becoming disturbiing in Nasarara and called on perpetrators of the act to desist or face the wrath of the law.
