Men of the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, have intercepted and arrested 47 suspected rail track vandals while on routine patrol along Kakau Daji-Anguwan Ayaba.
Parading the suspects at 312 Artillery Regiment in Kaduna on Saturday, the Acting Commander, 1 Division Provost Group, Lt. Col. IY Rena, stated that the 47 suspects were profiled to ascertain their level of involvement during preliminary investigation
He added that the suspects, who had loaded two trucks with the vandalised rail tracks before their arrest, revealed that they were employed by one Alhaji Babawo, who is currently at large, to load the vandalised rail tracks and off-load the same in a nearby bush along the road.
He further stated that the suspects were also individually interrogated and cross-examined while efforts were in place to arrest the gang leader, who is currently on the run.
Lt. Col. Rena revealed that on visit to the crime scene, some of the vandalised rail tracks were found concealed in the nearby bush waiting to be evacuated by the criminal syndicate.
While handing over the suspects to the authorities of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), 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.
Earlier in his remarks during the handing over of the suspects, the representative of the NRC and Divisional Crime Officer, ASP Inuwa Dahiru, commended the troops of the Nigerian Army for their proactiveness and collaboration with other security agencies in tackling the 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.
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC ), 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander, Operation Whirl Punch, Maj. Gen. MLD Saraso, 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.
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