NRC excited as NSCDC busts major railway vandalism syndicates in Kaduna
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has commended the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for its sustained crackdown on railway vandals and the protection of critical national assets following major anti-vandal operations in Kaduna and Plateau States. In one of the operations, NSCDC operatives uncovered a major syndicate allegedly involved in the vandalism and […]
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has commended the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for its sustained crackdown on railway vandals and the protection of critical national assets following major anti-vandal operations in Kaduna and Plateau States.
In one of the operations, NSCDC operatives uncovered a major syndicate allegedly involved in the vandalism and illegal processing of railway infrastructure materials. Acting on intelligence gathered from a viral video showing vandalized railway components, NSCDC operatives on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, stormed a steel company located at Birnin Yero in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
During the raid, security operatives discovered large quantities of railway materials, including rails and sleepers suspected to have been stolen from railway corridors. Equipment allegedly used for compressing and reprocessing the stolen materials, as well as suspected stolen vehicles, were also recovered from the facility.
The NSCDC further disclosed that the Kaduna-based steel company was allegedly working in collaboration with another steel firm located in Aba, Abia State, as part of a wider local and international syndicate specializing in the vandalism and illegal trade of critical national infrastructure.
In a related development, another incident of railway vandalism was reported at KM 809 along the Kuru–Vom axis in Plateau State.
According to reports, at about 03:29hrs on May 16, 2026, NRC officials received distress information from staff at Kuru regarding suspicious activities and ongoing vandalisation of railway materials around the corridor.
The District Engineer, North Central District (NCD), immediately alerted the Head of Anti-Vandal Unit of the NSCDC in Jos for urgent intervention after railway staff reportedly sighted a suspicious vehicle near the track.
Although the vandals escaped before security operatives arrived at the location, the prompt response of the NSCDC helped in assessing the extent of the damage and preventing further destruction.
Preliminary findings by the Permanent Way Inspector (Traffic), Bukuru, revealed that about 10 panels of UIC-50 rails had been cut into pieces, while approximately 305 UIC-50 sleepers were carted away. Additionally, about 52 sleepers and 102 pieces of cut rails were abandoned at the scene and left scattered along the track formation.
Reacting to the developments, the management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation praised the NSCDC for its swift response, professionalism, and continued collaboration in protecting railway infrastructure across the country. The Corporation reiterated that railway materials, whether serviceable or unserviceable, remain critical national assets vital to safe rail operations and national economic development.
The NRC further appealed to members of the public and communities residing along railway corridors to remain vigilant and support security agencies with credible information that would help curb the menace of vandalism and sabotage of railway infrastructure nationwide.
It would be recalled that shortly after assuming office, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, reclassified disused railway materials into serviceable and unserviceable categories while emphasizing that all railway assets must be treated as critical national infrastructure deserving maximum protection.