Police bust railway vandalism syndicate in Oyo, recover tracks worth N200m

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a syndicate involved in the vandalisation and illegal transportation of railway infrastructure, recovering stolen rail tracks valued at about N200 million.

The suspects were apprehended in Surulere Local Government Area following intelligence provided by a member of the public, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso.

The police said operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit acted on the information and intercepted the suspects at Gambari in the Orile-Igbon area at about 1:45 p.m. on July 14 before the stolen materials could be moved out of the state.

Those arrested were identified as Waheed Ayinde, 54; Muhammed Sani, 27; and Hassan Ibrahim, 22.

Recovered from the suspects were vandalised railway tracks estimated to be worth N200 million and a HOWO truck with registration number CAL 972 XA, allegedly used to transport the stolen items.

According to the police, preliminary investigations indicated that the rail tracks were removed illegally from locations in Niger State and transported into Oyo State as part of a wider criminal network, with Lagos identified as the intended destination.

Investigators further discovered that the suspects allegedly played different roles in the operation, including transporting the stolen materials, coordinating logistics and providing temporary storage for the railway components before their onward movement.

The command said the suspects had provided useful information during interrogation and were assisting investigators in uncovering the activities of other members of the syndicate.

Recovered rail tracks

Police authorities added that efforts were underway to track down additional suspects, recover more stolen items linked to the operation and conclude investigations for possible prosecution.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Olugbenga Abimbola, praised the member of the public whose information led to the arrests, describing the operation as a testament to the importance of intelligence gathering and collaboration between residents and security agencies.

He urged members of the public to continue providing credible information that could assist law enforcement agencies in tackling crime and protecting public assets.

Abimbola also reiterated the command’s determination to safeguard critical national infrastructure and warned that the state would not serve as a refuge for individuals involved in economic sabotage or other criminal activities.

The police said investigations into the case are ongoing.