The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested two persons suspected to have vandalised railway tracks and sleepers, weighing approximately 60 tonnes.
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
Placid said that the rail tracks and sleepers valued at N400 million were concealed under sacks of groundnut shells and loaded in a trailer truck.
He said that operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Force Intelligence Department (FID), coordinated by the commander, ACP Victor Godfrey, arrested the suspects on April 9, in Nasarawa State.
He said the arrest followed an actionable intelligence and the directive of the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Olatunji Disu, to tactical teams to arrest vandals of government properties.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were involved in the transportation of vandalised railway tracks and sleepers valued at over N400 million from Bauchi to Kwara.
“These railway tracks and sleepers were concealed under sacks of groundnut shells to evade detection.
“The trailer truck, with registration number KRB 355 SX, used for conveyance, was also recovered and currently in custody,” he said.
The force PRO said investigation was ongoing to apprehend the intended receiver in Kwara and other members of the syndicate.
He said operatives of STS had also arrested three suspects over armed robbery and recovered 10 stolen vehicles of various brands.
The police spokesman said the brands of the recovered vehicles include Toyota Hilux trucks, Toyota Corolla cars, a Pontiac Vibe GT, a Honda car, a Lexus vehicle, and a Toyota RAV4.
He said the suspects, arrested on April 16 in Kaduna State following actionable digital intelligence, had been on the wanted list of the police.
According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects was a dismissed Corporal of the Nigerian Army, whose last posting was the Army School of Artillery, Kachia, Kaduna State.
He also said that the suspect had been impersonating as a serving soldier to evade arrest while perpetrating armed robbery operations alongside his accomplices.
He said efforts were being intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional exhibits.