Police apprehend rail track vandals in Benue*Recover 11 AK-47 rifles, 346 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, exotic cars
By Myke Uzendu and Ralph Christopher
The Police yesterday announced the arrest of a criminal syndicate allegedly responsible for recent vandalism of rail tracks in the North-West and North-Central parts of the country.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) CP Frank Mba, “the arrest of the suspects follows deliberate efforts by the police to contain and clampdown on perpetrators of recent incidents of rail tracks vandalism, carting away of critical locomotive equipment and other related economic crimes in some parts of the country”.
The arrested criminals, 36 in number, includes those arrested “recently for offences of banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, possession of illegal firearms, cultism, murder, economic sabotage, cybercrime, car snatching, etc”.
He said that sustained nationwide tactical, anti-crime operations by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) in the country led to their arrest.
“Exhibits recovered in the operations include: 8 AK49 rifles, 3 AK47 rifles, 1 locally made rifle, 346 rounds of AK47 live ammunition, 24 live cartridges, 20 AK47 magazine, cash sum of N1,400,000, 2 Toyota Corolla (Abuja – RBC 653 AE and ABC 906 AG), 1 Toyota Camry, one 307 Peugeot (Abuja – BWR 920 HK), one 406 Peugeot and one Honda civic.
“The suspects involved in the rail track vandalism, Idris Lawal (‘m’ 42years), Abdullahi Musa (‘m’ 29years) and Usman Umar (‘m’ 22years) were arrested following a coordinated intelligence-driven special operation on 27th May, 2021, which uncovered a warehouse in Gboko LGA of Benue State.
“A cordon and search operation conducted by the Police operatives on the building revealed different vandalized rail equipment, stolen rail installation racks, weld-shear, rail puller, other rail accessories and consumables.
“Further investigations by the Police team led to the interception of three heavy-load trucks along Ikom-Ibom junction in Cross Rivers State.
“The trucks were fully loaded with vandalized rail items transported from the warehouse.
“Investigation is on-going to identity the destination, the targeted criminal receivers, end-users and other suspects complicit in the crime”.
Similarly, a 6-man notorious armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate allegedly linked to several violent crimes in Ondo and Ekiti axis of the South-Western part of the country have been arrested.
“The arrest follows the trailing and arrest of one 60-year-old Umar Mohammed who has been on the wanted list of the Police for transporting firearms and ammunition on behalf of notorious criminals who have carried out major operations in the South-West States.
“Further investigations by the Police team led to the arrest of five (5) of his gang members – Umar Abubakar (22yrs), Muhammed Bello (52yrs), Sale Lawali (25yrs), Usman Muhammed (20yrs) and Musa Ibrahim (53yrs), all male – that utilize the weapons he provided to carry out series of kidnapping and armed robbery operations in the country”.
Mba added that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, expressed confidence that no stone would be left unturned until all public spaces are reclaimed from criminal elements and a comfortable level of public safety and security achieved in all parts of the country.
“He enjoined citizens to continue to support the Police and the security community as they carry out the tasks of returning our country to the path of peace and security,” Mba stated.
