Operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command have arrested a 32-year-old man, Abubakar Sanusi, in connection with the vandalism and theft of railway materials along a section of the Eastern rail corridor in the state.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, the suspect was apprehended on Tuesday following credible intelligence and surveillance by officers attached to the Railway Police Unit. During the operation, police recovered several vandalized concrete and wooden railway sleepers, cutting tools, and a truck suspected to have been used to convey the stolen items.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Sanusi allegedly led a group that dismantled the sleepers from an abandoned stretch of track in Toro LGA before moving them to a hideout. Authorities said the stolen components were intended for resale to scrap dealers.
The arrest, police noted, is part of a wider crackdown to curb the rising cases of railway asset destruction across Bauchi and neighboring states.The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi Command, described railway vandalism as a serious economic sabotage that threatens both public safety and government investment in rail infrastructure. “These acts not only destroy national assets worth millions but also put train passengers and communities at risk of derailment and accidents,” he said. He confirmed that detectives are working to track other members of the syndicate who are currently at large.
As part of new security measures, the Command announced increased 24-hour patrols, joint operations with NSCDC and railway security, and community engagement along all rail lines in the state. Residents have been urged to report any suspicious movement around tracks, depots, or scrap yards. The suspect is currently in custody and will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.
