Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
Barely five days after the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), announced the arrest of two persons suspected of vandalising rail tracks along the Kaduna-Zaria rail line, the corporation has raised the alarm over the vandalism of the newly fixed Itakpe-Warri rail line by yet-to-be identified persons, who cut off several sections of the track.
In a viral video circulating online, the vandals used saw-like object to cut through the rail line to a point where the pieces could be carted away, thereby exposing passengers to danger
The Managing Director/CEO, the NRC, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, confirmed the development to journalists yesterday
Okhiria stated that vandals perpetrated the act on the Warri-Itakpe standard gauge line around KM 30 Adogo, Kogi State section of the rail.
The NRC boss, while confirming the incident, said the train was still being operated as there was an alternative.
According to him, “the incident happened two days ago.
“But we are still in operation because we have an alternative”
NRC Northern District Engineer, Mr. Haruna Sabo, had recently told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Zaria that two persons suspected of vandalising rail tracks along the Kaduna-Zaria rail line had been arrested.
He had also stated that the corporation had deployed patrol teams along the rail line following the repeated vandalism of the rail tracks.
Sabo said those arrested were members of a syndicate that specialised in removing rail clips that hold sleepers and rail tracks together.
The district engineer said that the suspects were arrested by staff of the NRC district office at Sayi-Dumbi rail section along the Zaria-Kaduna axis on Friday.
He gave the names of the suspects as: Sabitu Kabiru of Matara Sarki in Zaria and a trader, Sabi’u Shehu.
