Aminat Gusanu
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), operating under the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), arrested four suspects transporting large quantities of vandalized rail track iron concealed within a load of scrap iron in an articulated DAF truck in Nasarawa state.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the suspects, who had attempted to disguise themselves as scavengers, were apprehended along the Lafia-Akwanga-Abuja expressway in Sabon Pagi, Lafia.
This development was disclosed in a communique signed by the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Babawale Afolabi, in Abuja. The agency stated that the four suspects have been taken into custody for further investigation and action.
The statement reads, “On August 14, 2023, at about 10:30 a.m., the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, conducting a specialized operation to combat nefarious activities of rail line vandals, apprehended four suspected vandals disguised as scavengers.
“It was later discovered that the suspects had vandalized rail track irons and concealed them within scrap iron materials. They then loaded the vandalized rail track irons into a truck for transportation to buyers.”
“The details of the truck were provided as an articulated DAF truck with registration number BSA 899XA, and the four suspected vandals are 27-year-old Anasi Ali, the driver of the truck; Yusuf Idris, 25; Hafis Idris, 18; and Nasiru Abdullahi, 28, who served as the escort.
“Items recovered from the vandals include a DAF truck, large quantities of offloaded scrap iron, and significant amounts of vandalized railway iron,” the statement reads.
According to the agency, preliminary investigations revealed that the vandals loaded the rail track irons and slippers in Makurdi, Benue State.
They concealed these within scrap iron to masquerade as scraps while en route to an undisclosed iron and steel company in Ilorin, Kwara State. The suspects were intercepted and arrested.
The Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter, after which the suspects will be charged to court.
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