The Nigerian Railway Corporation has expressed alarm over a growing wave of vandalism targeting its electrical and signaling infrastructure on major rail routes, including the Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, and Warri-Itakpe lines.
Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the corporation’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the concern through an official statement released on Saturday in Lagos. The announcement, issued by Callistus Unyimadu, the corporation’s Chief Public Relations Officer, characterized the incidents as a serious threat to the safety and efficiency of railway operations nationwide.
Opeifa disclosed that law enforcement authorities have taken two individuals into custody in Kaduna for their alleged involvement in vandalizing equipment near the Rigasa Train Station. The suspects, ages 22 and 24, are both residents of Rigasa and were detained by officers from the Nigeria Police Railway Command assigned to the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service.
The arrests came after personnel discovered on Friday, October 10, around 12:30 p.m., that cable wiring had been severed and stolen from a railway crane. Following the discovery, a patrol unit under the direction of ASP Abdullahi Bwajin, the Administrative Officer stationed at Rigasa, used intelligence gathering to track down and apprehend the suspects shortly thereafter.
Under questioning, both individuals admitted to the theft and revealed they had sold the stolen cable to a buyer identified as Musa, known locally as “Musa Major,” for 90,000 naira. Each suspect received 30,000 naira from the proceeds, while a third accomplice, also from Rigasa, has not yet been located, according to Opeifa.
The Managing Director stated that the Nigeria Police Railway Command continues efforts to apprehend the outstanding suspect and retrieve the stolen materials. He praised the command for its swift action and professionalism, affirming that all those responsible will face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
Opeifa voiced significant concern about the escalating attacks on railway electrical and signaling systems, emphasizing their status as vital national infrastructure. He announced that the corporation, in collaboration with security agencies, will now classify such vandalism as economic sabotage, carrying serious legal penalties for perpetrators.
The railway chief called on residents in communities where railway facilities are located to assist the corporation and security forces in safeguarding these installations. He underscored that the railway network serves as an engine for community development and economic improvement, making its protection a shared responsibility among all stakeholders.
