By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun

Troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna while on routine patrol along Kakau Daji- Anguwan Ayaba intercepted and arrested 47 suspected rail track vandals on 26 June 2024. The suspects who had loaded 2 trucks with the vandalized rail tracks before their arrests revealed that they were employed by one Alhaji Babawo who is at large to load the vandalized rail tracks and off- load same in a nearby bush along the road.

Parading the suspects during profiling at 312 Artillery Regiment Kaduna, Lt Col IY Rena, Acting Commander 1 Division Provost Group, stated that the suspects who are 47 in number were profiled to ascertain their level of involvement during preliminary investigation. He further stated that the suspects were also individually interviewed and cross-examined while efforts are in place to arrest the gang leader who is currently at large.

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 criminal syndicates .While handing over the suspects to the Authorities of Nigeria Railway Corporation Kaduna Station represented by the Divisional Crime Officer, Lt Col Rena urged the relevant security agencies to make adequate arrangements and deliberate efforts to secure the rail tracks from further vandalisation.

In his remarks during the handing over of the suspects, ASP Inuwa Dahiru, representative of the Nigeria Railway Corporation and Divisional Crime Officer commended the troops of the Nigerian Army for their proactiveness and collaboration with other security agencies in tackling the mirage of 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 deterrence to other criminally minded persons.

Maj Gen MLD Saraso, General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Operation Whirl Punch has commended the troops for their professional conduct during and after the successful arrest of the suspects. He has also charged the troops to remain resilient and focussed in order to bring all criminal elements in the Division’s Operational Area of Responsibility to their knees.