Troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army in Kaduna have arrested 47 suspected rail track vandals.
It was learnt that the troops nabbed the suspects while on routine patrol along Kakau Daji-Anguwan Ayaba in Chikun Local Government Area of the state on June 26, 2024.
The suspects, who reportedly loaded two trucks with the vandalised rail tracks before their arrest, allegrdly revealed that they were employed by one Alhaji Babawo who is at large, to load the vandalized rail tracks and offload same in a nearby bush along the road.
Parading the suspects at 312 Artillery Regiment Kaduna, the Acting Commander 1 Division Provost Group, Lt Colonel Yakubu Iko Rena, stated that the suspects were individually interviewed, adding that efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing gang leader.
Lt Col Rena revealed that, on visit to the crime scene, some of the vandalized rail tracks were found concealed in the nearby bush waiting to be evacuated by the suspects.
While handing over the suspects to the authorities of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Kaduna Station, Lt Col Rena urged the relevant security agencies to make adequate arrangements and deliberate efforts to secure the rail tracks from further vandalization.
In his remarks during the handing over of the suspects, the representative of the Nigeria Railway Corporation and Divisional Crime Officer, ASP Inuwa Dahiru, commended the troops of the Nigerian Army for their proactiveness and collaboration with other security agencies in tackling security challenges confronting the state.
He assured the Nigerian Army that all the 47 suspects would be thoroughly investigated before they are charged to court to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded persons.
Meanwhile, the Spokesman of 1 Division, Lt. Colonel Musa Yahaya, said the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Operation Whirl Punch, Maj Gen MLD Saraso, commended the troops for their professional conduct during and after the successful arrest of the suspects.
He also charged the troops to remain resilient and focused in order to track down criminal elements in the Division’s Operational Area of Responsibility.
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