BAUCHI, Nigeria — Security forces have dismantled a criminal syndicate accused of stripping Nigeria’s railway infrastructure, arresting two men and recovering a large haul of stolen rail sleepers in Bauchi State.
The operation, led by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), intercepted a transport vehicle along the Bauchi-Kano Road, dealing what officials described as a “major blow” to economic saboteurs.
The Interception
Acting on intelligence regarding the movement of stolen materials from Tafawa-Balewa Local Government Area, the squad stopped a Peugeot Boxer vehicle suspected of carrying illicit cargo. Upon inspection, the vehicle was found to be heavily laden with railway sleepers destined for an unknown location in Kano.
Two suspects were taken into custody at the scene:
- Alzuma Yakubu (65): The driver of the vehicle.
- Ismail Muhammad (32): Who claimed to be the owner of the stolen materials.
Both the vehicle and the recovered infrastructure are now being held as evidence.
Cracking Down on ‘Fake Contractors’
The operation follows a direct intervention by the NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, who ordered the elite intelligence squad to relocate to Bauchi in response to a formal complaint from the state governor.
Authorities had raised concerns that criminal gangs were hijacking federal government contracts, posing as authorised agents to dismantle and remove rail tracks and sleepers systematically. The squad, led by Commandant Apollos Dandaura, has been tasked with putting a “grand halt” to the destruction of railway assets along the Bauchi-Gombe corridor.
‘No Longer a Safe Haven’
The NSCDC has warned that it is now expanding its investigation to track the broader criminal network, including the location of secret warehouses used to stockpile stolen goods before they are moved across state lines.
“The NSCDC remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure,” said national spokesperson Afolabi Babawale in a statement. “We warn all vandals and illegal scrap dealers that the Bauchi-Gombe axis is no longer a haven for their activities.”
The suspects are being interrogated, and the Corps is confident of closing in on the wider network.
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