The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 13 suspected railway vandals found with large quantities of stolen rails and sleepers worth N800 million Naira.

The suspects were paraded Tuesday alongside five trucks carrying the vandalized railway materials at the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja.

NSCDC spokesperson Babawale Afolabi said the arrests were made by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGs SIS) around Manchock, Zonkwa and Kaffanchan in Kaduna State.

He said: “The 13 suspects and 5 trucks impounded have been taken into custody for profiling and further investigation and prosecution.”

Afolabi disclosed that upon arrest, the CG’s squad was offered a huge bribe which they refused to accept.

“When they were apprehended, the Commander of the squad was offered the sum of N30million which was rejected.”

NSCDC Commandant General Ahmed Audi condemned the continual vandalism of rail infrastructure by criminal groups. He vowed to unmask all involved and bring them to justice.

One detained truck driver confessed he was to be paid N1.2 million for delivering the stolen materials to Ilorin. He received a N200,000 advance, giving N100,000 to his agent.

Austin Ashibekong, North Central District Manager for the Federal Railway Corporation, confirmed the arrests occurred in his jurisdiction. He said vandalism of tracks, clips and other components has surged, hurting railway operations.

Ashibekong welcomed the NSCDC’s efforts to curb such crimes. He called for continued security cooperation to tackle the vandalism plaguing the railway system.