Crime
Nigerian Army Nabs Three Suspected Rail Track Vandals In Nasarawa
The suspects claimed that they were deceived by their sponsors, who are still on the run.
Troops from the 4th Special Forces of the Nigerian Army, based in Doma, Nasarawa State, have arrested three suspects involved in rail track vandalism in the Kwarra community within the Keana Local Government Area of the State.
At a press conference held in Doma on Monday, August 14, 2023, Major Joseph Afolasade, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 4 Special Forces Command, formally disclosed the development to the newsmen.
“On Aug. 5, 2023, at about 11pm, troops of the command intercepted three suspected railtrack vandals during a routine patrol at Kwarra community of Keana LGA,” he stated.
“The suspects were arrested with a large quantity of rail tracks loaded in one 18-tire truck with Registration Number DED 364 YC.”
According to him, the suspects claimed that they were deceived by their sponsors, who are still on the run.
He said that preliminary investigations revealed that on Aug. 23, the driver of the truck, Chibuki Akubilo, was contacted to convey the vandalised rail tracks to Ilorin in Kwara for N1.6 million.
He further said that the Commander of the Special Forces, Maj.-Gen. Hillary Nzan had approved that the suspects be handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, for further investigation and prosecution.
He, therefore, handed over the suspects to the representative of the state command of NSCDC.
Responding, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Jerry Victor, expressed gratitude to the Army for collaborating with the corps to tackle insecurity in the state.
“Usually, this type of crime is being committed by a syndicate,” he said.
He promised that the investigation would be continued to arrest other members of the group for prosecution.
The driver of the truck told newsmen that he was contacted by one Mr Charles to convey the items to Ilorin.
