UYO- The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it has detained two suspected cable vandals in Odoro Nkit Village in Esit Eket Local Government Area of the state.
LAGOS- The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has recorded significant breakthroughs in the fight against railway infrastructure vandalism with multiple arrests made in Katsina and Niger states.
The Managing Director, NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, said this in a statement signed by Mr Callistus Unyimadu, Chief Public Relations Officer, NRC, on Saturday in Lagos.
Opeifa said eight suspects were apprehended on July 11 for vandalising railway track components along the Sheme-Gusau rail corridor in Katsina State.
“The suspects were caught in the act at Sheme village while attempting to cart away railway steel sleepers.
“Prior to their arrest, they had already loosened bolts and nuts from 310 steel sleepers between Kilometres 1087 and 1088,” he said.
He added that three individuals were initially arrested and handed over to the Divisional Police Officer at Faskari Local Government Area Police Division.
He said subsequent investigations led to the arrest of five more suspects, bringing the total number in custody to eight.
“Legal advice has been sought from the Ministry of Justice in Kaduna State, and the suspects are to be arraigned before the Federal High Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction over such offences,
“In the interim, they remain in custody pending the completion of legal formalities. The NRC is also exploring prosecution through the Civil Defence’s anti-vandalism legal unit,” he said.
Opeifa added that, in Sarkin Pawa, Niger State, there was substantial progress in the investigation of another vandalism case, which happened on July 14.
He noted three suspects were initially apprehended by local vigilantes and handed over to the Police Division of which regrettably, one of the vigilantes was stabbed by the suspects during the arrest.
“Further investigations revealed that the suspects had stolen over 1,200 pandrol clips and sold them to a receiver in Suleja, and so far, only 15 clips have been recovered.
“A police team subsequently raided Suleja and arrested three more suspects, including the alleged buyer of the stolen materials and another individual linked to the Sarkin Pawa vandalism.
“Investigators also uncovered that the Suleja-based receiver had transferred some of the stolen components to another suspect. Security agencies are currently working to locate and arrest all collaborators and to recover the remaining materials,” he said.
He said the police team deployed to Sarkin Pawa Community also arrested an additional suspect, Yusuf Hussaini, who was lured from Suleja and was now in custody alongside the three initially arrested suspects in Minna.
He said that four suspects were presented before the court on July 22 where the court granted the prosecution’s application to remand them for seven days to aid the recovery of the stolen materials.
“The NRC condemns these criminal acts in the strongest terms and reiterates its commitment to protecting the integrity of railway infrastructure across the nation.
“These acts of sabotage not only endanger lives but also disrupt national economic activities.
“The NRC management commends the swift action of the local communities, security operatives, and NRC personnel who contributed to these successful arrests.
“The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity along railway corridors. The management assures that all culprits will be brought to justice,” he said. (NAN)
PORT HARCOURT – Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has attributed the recent increase in Nigeria’s crude oil production to enhanced security along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).
The TNP traverses numerous communities in the Niger Delta, transporting 450,000 barrels per day of Bonny Light crude oil from various oil fields to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers.
Dr Akpos Mezeh, Community Relations Consultant for PINL, made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting with TNP host communities in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Mezeh explained that the company, which is responsible for securing the pipeline, achieved the improved security outcomes through strategic collaboration with host communities and key stakeholders.
“This collaborative approach has not only strengthened relationships but also created a united front in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism,” he said.
He further attributed the success to effective partnership with local government authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies.
“Through our social investment, based on needs assessments, PINL addressed the socio-economic drivers of crude oil theft by economically empowering local communities in a sustainable manner.
“Our collaborative interventions also supported the restoration of environments previously devastated by crude oil spills and related damage.
“These measures have resulted in near-zero infractions along the TNP, which in turn has led to increased crude oil production, enhanced national revenue, and significantly improved investors’ confidence,” Mezeh said.
He also credited the company’s success to the consistent motivation of surveillance personnel through prompt salary payments and strict adherence to local content policies.
Additional efforts cited include the deployment of military camps, porta cabins, and houseboats at strategic points, as well as empowerment initiatives for community residents, among others.
Despite these achievements, Mezeh acknowledged that the company continued to face significant challenges.
“These include the lack of timely prosecution of suspected oil thieves and pipeline vandals, and reluctance of some leaders to share crucial information due to fear of reprisals.
“Our operations are also hindered by leadership disputes within the communities, and the complicity of certain stakeholders with oil thieves,” he concluded. (NAN)
ABUJA- The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says vandals have again vandalised its 132 Kilo Volt (KV) transmission line and underground cables in Abuja.
TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, said in a statement on Friday that the incident resulted in power outages in the Central Area and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Mbah said that the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday.
According to her, the vandalised 132kv underground cable transports bulk electricity to TCN’s 132kv Central Area transmission substation.
The TCN’s 132kv Central Area transmission substation supplies power through its “8 number” distribution feeders to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for onward supply to its customers in Central Area and environs,” she said.
She added that the vandalism which was carried out around the Millennium Park axis of Abuja, had affected over 60 per cent of the power supply to Abuja.
Mbah said the vandals carted away 40 meters of 1×500 Millimeters (MM) XLPE conductors on the two 132kv transmission lines
She listed areas experiencing power outages to include Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Life camp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi and parts of Presidential Villa.
“TCN engineers have already been mobilised to the site of the incident to repair the vandalised cables.
“TCN enjoins Nigerians to be vigilant in observing and reporting suspicious activities to security operatives.
“We must work together to protect our transmission equipment and installation.
“This is very crucial to the development of the nation’s power sector,” she said. (NAN)
The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested nine suspects for vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure.
The FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, revealed this on Wednesday, saying four of the nine suspects were arrested while vandalising street lights, bridges, communication masts, armoured cables and other critical assets and infrastructure
Odumosu said NSCDC operatives, while on a routine patrol on October 21, 2024, arrested Abdullahi Sani, Male, 24 years old, from Kukawa LGA of Borno State.
“He was caught in the act of dismantling and vandalising street lights and amoured cables around the Yoruba mosque, Utako.
“Further investigations led to the arrest of five buyers of the vandalised critical national assets and infrastructure at Pantaker, Jabi,” Odumosu said.
According to him, the second suspect, Ishaku Toma, was arrested while vandalising a bridge pavement along the Kado/Galadimawa Road, Idu Industrial.
He added that another suspect, Abubakar Habibu, was arrested at about 3.40am on 22nd October, around Mabushi Bridge while vigorously digging the ground to unearth and steal the street-lights armoured cables around the bridge.
“Daniel Peter, a 24-year-old male, was also arrested on Tuesday, October 22nd, at the Public Service Institute, Kubwa Express Road, Abuja, while vandalising armoured cables within the premises,” he stated.
The commandant also presented to the press exhibits recovered from Moshood Abiola Stadium on October 15, 2024.
He said the command’s patrol team intercepted some vandals in the process of vandalising telecommunication masts at the ‘B’ parking area of the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
“Although the vandals took to their heels upon sighting personnel of the command, the already dismantled items, which include 9 Base Transceiver Station (BTS) cabinets, among others, were recovered from the bushy environment during a thorough search/combing of the entire vicinity,” he said.
