The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said it has arrested and secured the remand of a suspected railway vandal in Lagos as part of its ongoing clampdown on infrastructure sabotage.
NRC disclosed this on Sunday in a statement signed by the Chief Public Relations Officer,
Callistus Unyimadu.
The suspect, Bashiru Hafeez, 32, was apprehended on March 26, 2026, by security personnel from Multi Eye Security Services during a routine patrol at Mobolaji Johnson Train Station in Ebute-Metta.
He was reportedly found in possession of 15 pandrol clips critical rail fasteners allegedly removed from the narrow-gauge corridor at Alagomeji within the Lagos rail network.
According to NRC, the removal of such components poses serious safety risks, including the possibility of train derailments.
Following his arrest, Hafeez was handed over to the Nigerian Railway Police Command for investigation and prosecution.
He was subsequently arraigned before a Lagos court and remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending further hearing. The case has been adjourned until April 24, 2026.
NRC’s Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa, described railway vandalism as economic sabotage that threatens lives and undermines critical national infrastructure.
He reaffirmed the corporation’s zero-tolerance stance on such acts.
Opeifa commended the security personnel for their vigilance and swift action, assuring that the NRC, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, will intensify efforts to track down and prosecute individuals and syndicates involved in railway asset theft.
He also warned that anyone caught vandalizing railway infrastructure or trading in stolen railway materials would face the full weight of the law.
The corporation urged members of the public to remain alert and report suspicious activities around railway corridors, stressing that the protection of railway assets is a shared responsibility.
NRC reiterated its commitment to ensuring safe, secure, and efficient rail operations nationwide.
