Troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army in Kaduna have arrested 47 suspected rail track vandals in the state.
The soldiers arrested the suspects while on a routine patrol along Kakau Daji-Anguwan Ayaba in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects, caught in the act, were said to have loaded two trucks with the vandalised rail tracks before their arrest. They claimed that they were employed by one Alhaji Babawo, who is at large, to load the vandalized rail tracks and offload in a nearby bush along the road.
The Acting Commander 1 Division Provost Group, Lt Colonel Yakubu Iko Rena, who paraded the suspects at 312 Artillery Regiment Kaduna, stated that the criminals were interrogated individually and that efforts are 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.
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.
